Jessica is a popular female name of English origin, derived from the male name Jesse, which means "God is my judge" in Hebrew. The name has been widely used since the Middle Ages and was originally associated with the biblical figure Jesse, who was the father of King David.
The name Jessica gained significant popularity in the 20th century due to various notable figures bearing the name, such as actress Jessica Tandy and poet Jessica Mitford. Additionally, it is believed that Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice" contributed to the name's popularity, as the character Jessica appears prominently in the story.
Today, Jessica remains a popular choice for parents naming their daughters, ranking consistently within the top 100 names for girls in many English-speaking countries. Despite its historical association with biblical figures and literary characters, the name Jessica has evolved into a modern classic that is timeless and enduring.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Jessica in the United States from 1972 to 1999. Over this period, there was a notable increase in the popularity of the name Jessica.
In the early years, the number of births with this name fluctuated between six and fifteen per year. However, starting around 1986, there was a significant rise in the popularity of the name Jessica. In fact, from 1986 to 1990, the number of annual births with the name Jessica increased by more than five times, going from twenty-seven births in 1986 to thirty-nine births in 1990.
The peak of this trend occurred between 1987 and 1989, during which there were at least twenty-eight births each year. The most popular year for the name Jessica was 1989, with a total of twenty-eight births.
However, after reaching its peak in popularity, the number of annual births with the name Jessica began to decline gradually. From 1990 onwards, the number of births fell below twenty each year, until it reached five births in both 1994 and 1999.
In total, there were 348 births with the name Jessica in the United States between 1972 and 1999. This data demonstrates how trends in baby naming can change over time, with names like Jessica peaking in popularity during certain periods before gradually decreasing again.