Jessica is a female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God beholds' or 'God sees'. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice', where it is the given name of the heroine Shylock's daughter. The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, making it a prominent choice for baby girls born during that period.
The name Jessical appears to have been popular among parents during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a peak of seven births in 1988. However, it seems to have fallen out of favor by the mid-1990s, as there were only five births each in 1990 and 1992. Overall, there were 34 babies named Jessical born between 1982 and 1992.