Vanessa
Girl name · #377 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Vanessa? In official American birth records, Vanessa has been tracked continuously since 1900, giving it 125 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 813 baby girls were named Vanessa, placing it at #377 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #187, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,214 girls born in 2025 was named Vanessa.
Babies named Vanessa per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 125-year story
Vanessa first appears in the Social Security records in 1900, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1985, when 7,563 girls were named Vanessa — good for #42 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 Vanessa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Vanessa in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Vanessa is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Vanessa is most common
Geography matters for names, and Vanessa is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Vanessa is most common in NV (1.3 per 1,000), IA (1 per 1,000), WI (0.9 per 1,000), IL (0.9 per 1,000), OR (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Vanessa is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Vanessa
Statistically, parents drawn to Vanessa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Melissa, Clarissa, Alyssa, Veronica, and Alicia.
MelissaClarissaAlyssaVeronicaAliciaJoannaRebeccaJessica
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Vanessa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 813 | #377 |
| 2024 | 938 | #334 |
| 2023 | 1,014 | #304 |
| 2022 | 1,026 | #311 |
| 2021 | 1,226 | #253 |
| 2020 | 1,384 | #209 |
| 2019 | 1,224 | #271 |
| 2018 | 1,378 | #231 |
| 2017 | 1,521 | #203 |
| 2016 | 1,664 | #197 |
| 2015 | 1,729 | #187 |
| 2014 | 1,927 | #171 |
| 2013 | 2,095 | #152 |
| 2012 | 2,554 | #123 |
| 2011 | 2,620 | #120 |
| 2010 | 2,888 | #107 |
| 2009 | 3,523 | #91 |
| 2008 | 4,032 | #78 |
| 2007 | 4,447 | #71 |
| 2006 | 4,169 | #79 |
| 2005 | 4,095 | #80 |
| 2004 | 4,350 | #75 |
| 2003 | 4,352 | #70 |
| 2002 | 4,455 | #68 |
| 2001 | 4,672 | #64 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Vanessa?
In official American birth records, the name Vanessa first appeared in 1900 (over 125 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Vanessa a popular girl name?
Vanessa ranked #377 among girls in 2025 with 813 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #187.
When was the name Vanessa most popular?
Vanessa peaked in 1985, when 7,563 American girls received the name (ranked #42 that year). Since 1985 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Vanessa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,214 newborn American girls was named Vanessa. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.