Jessica Name Meaning & Origin
Jessica
Origin of the name Jessica:
Of uncertain derivation and meaning, Jessica might be an elaboration of Jessie, which was originally a pet form of Janet and Jean. Alternatively, it can be interpreted as an elaborated feminine form of Jesse, which is derived from the Hebrew yīshai (gift).
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
Looking for the perfect name? Try the Name MatchMaker to find the perfect baby name for you!
NameVoyager
US Popularity of Jessica Over Time

Sister & Brother Names
Know a Jessica? What are her siblings named?
Name Lists Featuring Jessica
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales) 2014
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria) 2014
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand 2014
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland 2014
- English and Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England and Wales (2013)
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Northern Ireland 2014
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland 2014
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria), 2010
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand, 2010
- English Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England, 2010
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland, 2010
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Northern Ireland, 2010
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland, 2011
- English and Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England and Wales
- English Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England 2015
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland for 2012
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Northern Ireland for 2012
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland for 2012
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales) for 2012
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria) for 2012
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand for 2012
- Portuguese Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Portugal 2012
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria)
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Western)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Queensland)
Contribute your knowledge to the name Jessica
- Comments and insights on the name Jessica
- Personal experiences with the name Jessica
- Nicknames for Jessica
Jay/J, Jessie/Jessy, Jess, Jessi
- Meanings and history of the name Jessica
Jessica is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift”, “God beholds”. The name was first used in this form by Shakespeare in his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596), where it belongs to the daughter of Shylock. Shakespeare probably based it on the biblical name ISCAH which would have been spelled Jesca in his time. Popular in the late 1800s, it returned to popularity in the late 1960s.
From the Hebrew "Yiskah" meaning “foresight”, or being able to see the potential in the future.
- Famous real-life people named Jessica
Jessica Abel, American comic book writer and artist
Jessica Alba, American actress
Jessica Biel, American actress
Jessica Capshaw, American actress
Jessica Chastain, American actress
Jessica Cornish (Jessie J), British singer
Jessica Fodera, American rock singer-songwriter
Jessica Marais, Australian actress
Jessica McClure, 18-month-old who was rescued after being trapped in a well for over two days in 1987
Jessica Hart, Australian model
Jessica Harp, American country singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jessica Jung, South Korean-American main vocalist of South Korean pop girl group Girls' Generation
Jessica Lange, American actress
Jessica Origliasso, Australian musician, member of The Veronicas
Jessica Steen, Canadian Film and tv Actress, best known for her role as “Lisa Stillman in Heartland”
Jessica Savitch, American TV journalist
Jessica Simpson, American pop singer and actress
Jessica Stroup, American actress and model
Jessica Sutta, dancer/singer of Pussycat Dolls
Jessica Tandy, American actress
Jessica Tyler, a Canadian actress, singer and songwriter
Jessica Jane Willis "Jess", American singer, songwriter, dancer and musician
Jessica May Drociunas, Brezilian model and actress- Jessica in song, story & screen
"Who's that girl? Who's that girl? It's Jess!" - New Girl (TV show)
"Jessica", song by Graham Colton Band
"Jessica", song by the Allman Brothers
"Jessica", song by Dir en Grey
"Jessica", song by Ray Dylan (Afrikaans singer, South African)"Asking Jessica to Be Official", song by hellogoodbye
"We Made You" Song By Eminem
Jessica Lovejoy, character on "The Simpsons"Mambo No. 5 - Jessica said in lyrics!!!
"A little bit of Jessica here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man…"Jessica of the 1971 cult horror film Let's Scare Jessica to Death, portrayed by actress Zohra Lampert
Jessica Albert, from the Dragon Quest VIII video game
Jessica "Jess" Day, character on "New Girl"
Jessica Drew, the original Spider Woman
Jessica Jones, from the Marvel Comics series Alias
Jessica Rabbit, from Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Jessica "Jessi" Ramsey from The Baby-Sitters Club book series
Jessica "Jessie" Spano from the television series Saved by the Bell
Jessica Wakefield from the Sweet Valley book seriesJessica Sherawat is one of the main characters in Resident Evil Revelations game.
Jessica Dilaurentis TV series Pretty Little Liars
Jessica Stanley, from the Twilight saga
Jessica Riley is a main character in the video game "Until Dawn"
Jessica Vale, Preview from the X-Men comics