Janessa
Janessa was the 1741st most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 117 babies. Its best year was 2004, when it ranked 524th; the most babies were born in 2009 (556). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,025 places. More babies were named Janessa in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,741 girls, down 599 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 117girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2009556 babies
- Total since 1880
- 14,722babies recorded
Janessa popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,741 | 117 |
| 2020 | #1,142 | 208 |
| 2010 | #554 | 527 |
| 2000 | #686 | 346 |
| 1990 | #676 | 318 |
| 1980 | #1,154 | 117 |
| 1970 | #3,150 | 21 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Janessa, counting every spelling?
Janessa is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,567 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,741 for Janessa on its own. Together these spellings went to 117 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janessa | 117 | #1,741 | 833 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Janessa?
117 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Janessa (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Janessa born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 72 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Janessa.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Janessa?
About 14,500 people born in the US named Janessa are alive today, with a median age of 21; half are between 14 and 32. That makes Janessa mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Janessa by state
How common Janessa was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Indiana (2.1×), Arizona (1.9×), California (1.7×), Pennsylvania (1.7×). In 30 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Janessa: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Janessa, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Janessa
How popular is the name Janessa?
Janessa was the 1741st most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 117 babies. Its best year was 2004, when it ranked 524th; the most babies were born in 2009 (556). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,025 places. More babies were named Janessa in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Janessa a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Janessa in the US.
Where is Janessa most popular?
In 2021–2025, Janessa was most common in New Mexico (0.70 per 1,000 girls), followed by Indiana and Arizona.