Jessica is a popular female given name of Latin origin, derived from the masculine name Jesse, which means 'God sees' or 'God beholds'. It gained prominence in the United States during the mid-20th century and has since been among the top 100 names for girls in many English-speaking countries. The name's popularity can be attributed to its use by author Jessica Mitford in her writings, as well as characters from literature and film bearing this name. Notable figures include Jessica Rabbit from 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' and Jessica Wakefield, a main character in the Sweet Valley Twins series. The name is often associated with elegance, intelligence, and charm.
The name Jessica experienced a significant peak in popularity from 1987 to 1988 with 25 and 17 births respectively, before tapering off to lower numbers afterwards.