Vanesa Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Vanesa is a name of Spanish origin, derived from the literary name Vanessa created by Jonathan Swift. It means 'butterfly' and has evolved from its original form to become a popular name in modern times. The name conveys traits of beauty and grace, and it has no biblical relevance.
The name Vanesa is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Vanesa has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Vanesa' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4727th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2974th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1160th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1149th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3861st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Vanesa' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Vanesa"
Pronunciation
/vəˈneɪsə/
Origin
Spanish
Etymology
The name Vanesa is believed to be a variant of the name Vanessa, which was created by the author Jonathan Swift for a character in his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa.' The name is thought to combine the name 'Van' from the surname 'Van', meaning 'of' or 'from', and the Greek word 'essas,' meaning 'to be.'
Meaning
butterfly
Language Evolution
Vanessa, Vanesa
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, due to its association with the literary character created by Jonathan Swift.
Variants & Derivatives
Vanessa, Vania, Vani
Modern Popularity & Image
Vanesa is perceived as a modern and feminine name, often associated with beauty and grace. It remains popular in various cultures.
Famous People
Vanesa Lorenzo (Spanish model), Vanesa May (British violinist and dancer)
Explore More Vanesa Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Vanesa"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Vanesa"
"Vanesa" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4727th of 12526 | 132 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2974th of 19264 | 381 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1160th of 27321 | 2,269 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1149th of 35406 | 3,258 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3861st of 30306 | 470 |
Regional Popularity of "Vanesa" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Vanesa" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
86.82% 2550th/2937 |
77.63% 2704th/3483 |
65.04% 2288th/3518 |
48.52% 1962nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
41.71% 1537th/3685 |
29.39% 1315th/4475 |
23.82% 1237th/5194 |
10.76% 680th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
31.14% 1427th/4582 |
27.46% 1418th/5164 |
16.98% 1242nd/7313 |
10.83% 808th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
94.70% 3773rd/3984 |
78.18% 3508th/4487 |
49.50% 3377th/6822 |
43.59% 2736th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Vanesa"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Vanesa" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.