Vanessa

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    Origin:
  • English: Literary invention of Jonathon Swift
Description:
One can't think of the name Vanessa without thinking of the 80s. Along with Jessica and Tiffany, Vanessa was one of the names of the neon and synthesizer-filled decade. It's fared much better than its fellow 80s superstar name sisters, and is still a popular choice today. Interestingly enough, Vanessa was a name that was invented from thin air by author Jonathon Swift as a nickname for his close friend Esther Vanhomrigh. He then used it in his poem Cadenus and Vanessa, and it has been adopted as a bonafide name ever since.
Popularity:
How popular is Vanessa? Here's how many babies were named Vanessa over time, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration.
 Ranking   Name
Famous Namesakes:
Actress Vanessa Hudgens, British actress Vanessa Redgrave, Singer and actress Vanessa Williams
Celebrity Babies:
Daughter of Danielle Steel, Daughter of Jane Fonda, Daughter of John Kerry
Syllables:
3
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