Janessa
Girl name · #1740 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Janessa? In official American birth records, Janessa has been tracked continuously since 1954, giving it 71 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 117 baby girls were named Janessa, placing it at #1740 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #716, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,385 girls born in 2025 was named Janessa.
Babies named Janessa per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 71-year story
Janessa first appears in the Social Security records in 1954, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 556 girls were named Janessa — good for #545 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Janessa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Janessa in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Janessa is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Janessa will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Janessa is most common
State-level data for Janessa is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Janessa
Statistically, parents drawn to Janessa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Julissa, Jessa, Anessa, Larissa, and Brissa.
JulissaJessaAnessaLarissaBrissaAlissaElyssaArissa
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Janessa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 117 | #1733 |
| 2024 | 135 | #1568 |
| 2023 | 166 | #1356 |
| 2022 | 206 | #1172 |
| 2021 | 209 | #1169 |
| 2020 | 208 | #1140 |
| 2019 | 227 | #1094 |
| 2018 | 272 | #971 |
| 2017 | 303 | #890 |
| 2016 | 313 | #894 |
| 2015 | 397 | #716 |
| 2014 | 368 | #761 |
| 2013 | 407 | #695 |
| 2012 | 426 | #663 |
| 2011 | 451 | #630 |
| 2010 | 527 | #554 |
| 2009 | 556 | #545 |
| 2008 | 536 | #574 |
| 2007 | 547 | #557 |
| 2006 | 488 | #596 |
| 2005 | 488 | #583 |
| 2004 | 544 | #524 |
| 2003 | 465 | #590 |
| 2002 | 390 | #647 |
| 2001 | 352 | #703 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Janessa?
In official American birth records, the name Janessa first appeared in 1954 (over 71 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 71 years.
Is Janessa a popular girl name?
Janessa ranked #1740 among girls in 2025 with 117 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #716.
When was the name Janessa most popular?
Janessa peaked in 2009, when 556 American girls received the name (ranked #545 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Janessa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,385 newborn American girls was named Janessa. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.