Jess is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from the Latin 'Iesu', meaning 'Jesus'. It gained popularity as a standalone given name in the late 20th century, often used as a shortened form of Jessica or Jeremy. The name Jess has been traditionally more popular among females but has also been used for males in recent years.
The name Jess appears to have had varying popularity over the past century and a half, with several periods of notable usage. Between 1978 and 1991, there was a significant increase in its use, with more than 5 births per year each year during this period, reaching a peak of 16 births in 1991. However, the name's popularity has since declined, with fewer than 10 births per year recorded between 1992 and 2023, except for a brief spike to 15 births in 2007. Overall, Jess appears to be a name that has experienced periods of both popularity and decline over time, with a total of 470 births recorded since 1884.