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At a Glance: Name: Nessa – Origin: English (short form of Vanessa) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: NESS-ah
Nessa is an English name used as a short form of Vanessa, pronounced NESS-ah. You may have heard it said to mean 'pure' or 'holy,' but that claim doesn't come from a reliable source, so it's best treated as unconfirmed rather than fact. It has a short, modern feel with an international flavor, if that's the kind of name you're drawn to.
Meaning & Origin of Nessa
Origin: English (short form of Vanessa).
A common claim: Nessa is sometimes said to mean 'pure' or 'holy' Actually: Nessa is a short form of Vanessa rather than an independent Irish name, so it doesn't carry a traditional meaning of its own.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Nessa
Phonetic: NESS-ah IPA: /ˈnɛsə/
Popularity of Nessa
Nessa hit its high point in 2016, when it ranked #2302 with 83 babies given the name; by 2024 it had slipped to #2867, with 58 babies receiving it, in Social Security data spanning 1935 to 2024.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1935–2024.
Make Nessa Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Nessa, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Nessa mean?
Nessa is sometimes said to mean ‘pure’ or ‘holy’ Nessa is a short form of Vanessa rather than an independent Irish name, so it doesn’t carry a traditional meaning of its own.
How do you pronounce Nessa?
Nessa is pronounced NESS-ah (IPA: /ˈnɛsə/).
Is Nessa a popular name right now?
Nessa peaked at #2302 in 2016 and is ranked #2867 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1935–2024.)
📊 How popular is Nessa? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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