Vanessa

#377 for girls in 2025, 813 births · Last seen for boys in 2014 at #12,108
Given to girls 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1988 · 7,516 births
Debut · girls
6 births
In top 100 · girls
33 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
261,622
since 1900

Vanessa over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201966peak #41, 1988girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#377813—
2024#334938—
2023#3041,014—
2022#3111,026—
2021#2531,226—
2020#2091,384—
2019#2711,224—
2018#2311,378—
2017#2031,521—
2016#1971,664—
2015#1871,729—
2014#1711,927#12,1085
2013#1522,095#9,6557
2012#1232,554—
2011#1202,620#10,8086
2010#1072,888#10,7666
2009#913,523—
2008#784,032#11,0376
2007#714,447#8,9158
2006#794,169#10,6626
2005#804,095#8,2998
2004#754,350#7,5369
2003#704,352#9,5816
2002#684,455#10,6675
2001#644,672#7,5368
2000#625,134#5,58812
1999#575,287#6,04210
1998#525,830#4,87313
1997#545,796#3,45520
1996#605,746#3,83017
1995#635,404#3,85416
1994#595,552#3,59618
1993#555,890#2,45530
1992#556,080#2,41230
1991#565,926#2,46928
1990#566,409#2,21432
1989#506,962#1,53753
1988#417,516#1,18972
1987#437,348#1,53446
1986#437,469#1,51144
1985#427,563#1,54442
1984#457,156#1,45843
1983#486,388#1,19058
1982#496,154#1,27853
1981#624,749#2,13824
1980#694,426#2,36721
1979#754,102#2,66917
1978#763,853#3,21512
1977#903,209#2,79115
1976#1062,463#3,47110
1975#1152,440#2,75114
1974#1222,353#3,5589
1973#1342,144#3,22310
1972#1332,280#3,3449
1971#1292,657#3,14610
1970#1382,576#4,7245
1969#1472,234#3,9356
1968#1811,797#4,1365
1967#1701,869#3,5596
1966#1971,643#2,9868
1965#2031,632#3,5376
1964#1832,056#3,0508
1963#1882,032—
1962#1752,244#3,3057
1961#1532,765#2,9009
1960#1542,711#3,0778
1959#1393,120#2,20014
1958#1482,744#2,64210
1957#1592,379#3,0248
1956#1452,617—
1955#1402,698#3,2017
1954#1422,643#2,7439
1953#1632,007—
1952#303695—
1951#656176—
1950#93791—
1949#1,07070—
1948#1,05769—
1947#1,17059—
1946#2,59714—
1945#1,94119—
1944#2,51113—
1943#3,04010—
1942#2,21416—
1941#2,66811—
1940#2,20314—
1939#3,4297—
1938#2,11315—
1937#1,91417—
1936#1,69120—
1935#1,26432—
1934——
1933#3,4067—
1932#3,0479—
1931#3,4977—
1930#2,84510—
1929#4,5705—
1928#4,1956—
1927#4,8055—
1926——
1925#3,3629—
1924——
1923#3,3509—
1922#4,4456—
1921#5,0995—
1920#4,3986—
1919#4,2516—
1918——
1917#4,0836—
1916#3,2588—
1915#2,68810—
1914——
1913#3,1875—
1912——
1911——
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1909——
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1907——
1906——
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1900#1,7236—
1899——
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First appearance
1900

The first year at least five girls were named Vanessa! It came in at #1,723, and was given to 6 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1901–1914, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Vanessa is popular in 1966

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedAKMaine: #186 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 964 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedNHWashington: #308 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,781 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #191 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 925 girlsNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedMNIllinois: #187 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 1,000 girlsILWisconsin: #295 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,540 girlsWIMichigan: #271 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 1,751 girlsMINew York: #178 for girls · 161 births · 1 in 906 girlsNYMassachusetts: #287 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 2,370 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedIAIndiana: #231 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 1,402 girlsINOhio: #231 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 1,374 girlsOHPennsylvania: #214 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 1,279 girlsPANew Jersey: #200 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 1,053 girlsNJConnecticut: #227 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,378 girlsCTCalifornia: #312 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 1,747 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedUTColorado: #349 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,166 girlsCONebraska: #276 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,764 girlsNEMissouri: #189 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 960 girlsMOKentucky: #178 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 955 girlsKYWest Virginia: #167 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 788 girlsWVVirginia: #141 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 635 girlsVAMaryland: #131 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 594 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Vanessa, so not publishedDEArizona: #236 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,066 girlsAZNew Mexico: #220 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 870 girlsNMKansas: #246 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,193 girlsKSArkansas: #162 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 697 girlsARTennessee: #94 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 427 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #123 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 559 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #87 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 366 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #100 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 393 girlsDCOklahoma: #217 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,042 girlsOKLouisiana: #79 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 330 girlsLAMississippi: #89 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 361 girlsMSAlabama: #105 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 453 girlsALGeorgia: #117 for girls · 76 births · 1 in 509 girlsGAHawaii: #151 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 545 girlsHITexas: #189 for girls · 107 births · 1 in 859 girlsTXFlorida: #174 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 794 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Louisiana#79 · 1 in 330
  2. South Carolina#87 · 1 in 366
  3. Mississippi#89 · 1 in 361
  4. Tennessee#94 · 1 in 427
  5. District of Columbia#100 · 1 in 393

Best ever in a state: #7 in New Mexico, 1985.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Louisiana#79971 in 330
South Carolina#87581 in 366
Mississippi#89541 in 361
Tennessee#94711 in 427
District of Columbia#100281 in 393
Alabama#105611 in 453
Georgia#117761 in 509
North Carolina#123711 in 559
Maryland#131461 in 594
Virginia#141541 in 635
Hawaii#15191 in 545
Arkansas#162201 in 697
West Virginia#167161 in 788
Florida#174541 in 794
Kentucky#178261 in 955
New York#1781611 in 906
Maine#18681 in 964
Illinois#187881 in 1,000
Missouri#189361 in 960
Texas#1891071 in 859
North Dakota#19151 in 925
New Jersey#200491 in 1,053
Pennsylvania#214701 in 1,279
Oklahoma#217151 in 1,042
New Mexico#220101 in 870
Connecticut#227161 in 1,378
Indiana#231301 in 1,402
Ohio#231621 in 1,374
Arizona#236121 in 1,066
Kansas#246121 in 1,193
Michigan#271421 in 1,751
Nebraska#27661 in 1,764
Massachusetts#287191 in 2,370
Wisconsin#295141 in 2,540
Washington#308121 in 1,781
California#312881 in 1,747
Colorado#34971 in 2,166
Alaska———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Vanessa
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 43 spots since 2024 (#334 → #377)
  • 168 spots since 2020 (#209 → #377)
  • 190 spots since 2015 (#187 → #377)
  • Biggest jump: 353 spots in 1952 (#656 → #303)
  • Biggest drop: 58 spots in 2022 (#253 → #311)
Rise & fade · girls
88 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1900
  • Peaked 1988 at #41 (7,516 births)
  • Births halved by 2009, 21 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 33 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 33 yrs · run 1977–2009
  • Top 1,000: 76 yrs · run 1950–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 228
  • Highest: 1 in 228 girls born in 1985 were named Vanessa (0.44%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,977 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
  • Its best rank, #41 in 1988, was only 1 in 237 (0.42%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1980s
  • 25.1% of all girls named Vanessa (65,731) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1900s6#1,723 (1900)#1,723
1910s35#2,688 (1915)#3,493
1920s51#3,350 (1923)#4,278
1930s124#1,264 (1935)#2,578
1940s295#1,057 (1948)#2,047
1950s19,170#139 (1959)#293
1960s20,983#147 (1969)#175
1970s28,077#75 (1979)#112
1980s65,731#41 (1988)#49
1990s57,920#52 (1998)#57
2000s43,229#62 (2000)#74
2010s19,600#107 (2010)#176
2020s6,401#209 (2020)#298

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Vanessa in 1966

girls
#197
1,643 births · 1 in 1,030 girls
boys
#2,986
8 births · 1 in 222,933 boys

Top girls' names in 1966

  1. #1Lisa56,918
  2. #2Kimberly32,232
  3. #3Mary28,890
  4. #4Michelle27,159
  5. #5Karen25,450
  6. #6Susan23,776
  7. #7Patricia20,112
  8. #8Tammy18,621
  9. #9Angela18,532
  10. #10Jennifer18,215
  11. #197Vanessa1,643

Top boys' names in 1966

  1. #1Michael79,985
  2. #2David66,408
  3. #3James65,163
  4. #4John65,016
  5. #5Robert59,317
  6. #6William38,237
  7. #7Mark34,801
  8. #8Richard34,457
  9. #9Jeffrey30,200
  10. #10Thomas29,003
  11. #2,986Vanessa8
More about 1966

girls

1,692,177 girls got a published name in 1966; 1 in 1,030 of them was named Vanessa, which outranked 97.4% of the 7,624 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Vanessa
  1. #194Sandy1,680
  2. #195Jessica1,667
  3. #196Shari1,644
  4. #197Vanessa1,643
  5. #198Bridget1,629
  6. #199Cassandra1,596
  7. #200Jo1,590
Biggest movers since 1965
Risers
  1. ↑ 6,121Tabatha#6,539 → #418
  2. ↑ 1,469Tabitha#1,993 → #524
  3. ↑ 1,325Joell#2,247 → #922
  4. ↑ 1,047Tatia#1,715 → #668
  5. ↑ 969Nichole#1,829 → #860
Fallers
  1. ↓ 398Barb#815 → #1,213
  2. ↓ 310Jewell#952 → #1,262
  3. ↓ 288Roxie#944 → #1,232
  4. ↓ 284Aretha#818 → #1,102
  5. ↓ 280Kecia#392 → #672

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,783,461 boys got a published name in 1966; 1 in 222,933 of them was named Vanessa, which outranked 34.2% of the 4,540 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Vanessa
  1. #2,784Zeke9
  2. #2,784Zeno9
  3. #2,784Zev9
  4. #2,986Vanessa8
  5. #2,986Adell8
  6. #2,986Alice8
  7. #2,986Alma8
  8. #3,249Aden7
  9. #3,249Adolf7
  10. #3,249Agustine7

Tied with 262 names at #2,986; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1965
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,207Jarrod#1,720 → #513
  2. ↑ 893Heath#1,254 → #361
  3. ↑ 467Illya#1,294 → #827
  4. ↑ 419Jarrett#1,294 → #875
  5. ↑ 399Reynold#1,360 → #961
Fallers
  1. ↓ 464Quint#986 → #1,450
  2. ↓ 303Dario#934 → #1,237
  3. ↓ 299Darran#1,000 → #1,299
  4. ↓ 281Artie#897 → #1,178
  5. ↓ 268Daryn#716 → #984

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1966 →