Jessica is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God beholds' or 'God sees'. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly after being used by characters in works like Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' and television shows such as 'Dallas'. The name has also been popularized by notable figures like Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba. Variations include Jessika, Jessicah, and Jesika.
The name Jessica experienced significant popularity during the late 1970s to mid-1980s with a peak of 32 births recorded in 1987. However, its usage has since declined, with fewer than 20 births per year after 1995 and as low as single digits in recent years like 2001 and 2003.