Jessa

At a Glance

Origin

English (modern coinage, from Jessie + -a, 20th century)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

JEH-sahListen

Jessa is pronounced JEH-sah, and it's a modern coinage rather than an ancient name — it was formed in the 20th century by adding -a to Jessie. You may see it credited with the Hebrew meaning 'God beholds,' but that's actually borrowed from Jessica; Jessa itself doesn't have a direct Hebrew root.

Meaning & Origin of Jessa

Origin: English (modern coinage, from Jessie + -a, 20th century).

A common claim: 'God beholds' (Hebrew) Actually: Jessa is often given the Hebrew meaning 'God beholds,' borrowed from Jessica, but Wiktionary traces it instead to a 20th-century English coinage from Jessie + -a, with no Hebrew root of its own.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Jessa

Popularity of Jessa

Jessa peaked at #545 in 2015, when 572 girls were given the name, but by 2024 it had fallen to #2041 with just 95 babies.

Names Like Jessa

These names share Jessa’s style, era or origin.

• Anne
• Elsa
• Iva
• Liyah
• Aliana
• Arely

FAQ

What does the name Jessa mean?

‘God beholds’ (Hebrew) Jessa is often given the Hebrew meaning ‘God beholds,’ borrowed from Jessica, but Wiktionary traces it instead to a 20th-century English coinage from Jessie + -a, with no Hebrew root of its own.

How do you pronounce Jessa?

Jessa is pronounced JEH-sah (IPA: /ˈdʒɛsə/).

Is Jessa a popular name right now?

Jessa peaked at #545 in 2015 and is ranked #2041 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1918–2024.)

Make Jessa Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Jessa, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.