Vanessa is a feminine given name. It was created by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, whom Swift had met in 1708 and whom he tutored. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", a pet form of Esther. Van is a preposition in Dutch surnames that means "of" or "from", and Esther, from which Essa is derived, could be derived from the Old Persian stāra (NPer. setāra, meaning "star"). Thus, Vanessa could literally mean "from the star".
In 1726, the name Vanessa appeared in print for the first time in "Cadenus and Vanessa", an autobiographical poem about Swift's relationship with Vanhomrigh. Swift had written the poem in 1713, but it was not published until three years after Vanhomrigh died. Vanessa was adopted as the name of a genus of butterfly by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1807.
Vanessa was the 71st most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2007. It has been among the top 200 names for girls in the United States since 1953 and among the top 100 names for girls since 1977. It first appeared among the top 1,000 names for girls in the United States in 1950, when it appeared on the list in 939th place.
In Germany, Vanessa has been among the top 100 names for girls since 1976. The name became more and more popular and was the 7th most popular name for girls in the 1990s. In the following years its popularity dropped and the name is ranked in 42nd place for the decade 2000–2009.
Notable people with the given name Vanesa Vanesa Agović (born 1996), Montenegrin professional handball player Vanesa Amorós (born 1982), Spanish former handball player Vanesa Arenas (born 1978), Spanish judoka Vanesa Campos (1982–2018), Peruvian trans sex worker Vanesa Capó Pérez (born 1982), Spanish Paralympic swimmer Vanesa Cejudo, Spanish sociologist and art critic Vanesa Emilova (born 2008), Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Vanesa Furlanetto (born 1987), Argentine former tennis player Vanesa Gabriela Leiro (born 1992), Argentine actress and singer Vanesa Gimbert (born 1980), Spanish retired footballer Vanesa Gomez Gonzalez, Spanish software engineer and space scientist Vanesa González (born 1987), Argentine actress Vanesa Gottifredi (born 1969), Argentine chemist and biologist Vanesa Hocková (born 2000), Slovak skeet shooter Vanesa Hoti (born 1998), Swiss professional footballer Vanesa Kaladzinskaya (born 1992), Belarusian freestyle wrestler Vanesa Krauth (born 1981), Argentine former tennis player Vanesa Levenaj (born 2001), Albanian footballer Vanesa Levendi, Albanian international footballer Vanesa Lorenzo (born 1977), Spanish model Vanesa Magar Brunner (born 1971), Franco-Mexican scientist Vanesa Martín Mata (born 1980), Spanish singer, poet, and songwriter Vanesa Massetani (born 1982), Argentine politician Vanesa Muñiz (born 1975), Spanish retired rhythmic gymnast Vanesa Oshiro (born 1981), Argentine-born Japanese singer Vanesa Rakedzhyan (born 1976), Armenian alpine skier Vanesa Restrepo (born 1987), Colombian actress and model Vanesa Romero (born 1978), Spanish actress and model Vanesa Santana (born 1990), Argentine professional footballer Vanesa Šelmeková (born 2007), Slovak figure skater Vanesa Siley (born 1984), Argentine lawyer, trade unionist, and politician Vanesa Sršen (born 1971), Croatian retired volleyball player Vanesa Stoycheva (born 2003), Bulgarian footballer Vanesa Švédová (born 2003), Czech model and beauty pageant titleholder Vanesa Tot (born 1999), Croatian canoeist
Vanessa Vanessa, alternate name of Esther Vanhomrigh (c. 1688–1723), British-Dutch letter writer Vanessa Álava (born 1982), Ecuadorian politician Vanessa Aleksander (born 1996), Polish actress Vanessa Alexander, American-, Australian-, New Zealand-, and British screenwriter, director, and producer Vanessa Alfano (born 1976), American television journalist- and personality, reporter, host, and founder of HealthyStyleNY.com Vanessa Alfaro, Bolivian-born American designer, entrepreneur, model, and actress Vanessa Allen Sutherland, American corporate lawyer Vanessa Ament (born 1955), American author, academic, Foley artist, and musician Vanessa Amorosi (born 1981), Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist Vanessa Anderson, Australian teen whose death led to the Garling Report Vanessa Andreu (born 1979), Mexican actress, singer, hostess, and reporter Vanessa Angel, several people Vanessa Angélica Villarreal, American poet, essayist, and cultural critic Vanessa Arauz (born 1989), Ecuadorian football manager Vanessa Arscott (?–2004), Thai murder victim Vanessa Arteaga (born 1987/1988), American former professional video game player Vanessa Atkinson (born 1976), English-born Dutch former professional squash player Vanessa Atler (born 1982), American former elite gymnast Vanessa Atterbeary (born 1975), American attorney and politician Vanessa Axente (born 1995), Hungarian fashion model Vanessa Ayala, American visual artist Vanessa Baden (born 1985), American actress, writer, director, and producer Vanessa Baker (born 1974), Australian former diver Vanessa Barata (born 1988), Portuguese politician and lawyer Vanessa Barbara (born 1982), Brazilian journalist, novelist, and columnist Vanessa Barrs, American-born Australian veterinary scientist and professor Vanessa Bauche (born 1973), Mexican television-, theatre-, and film actress Vanessa Baudzus, German international footballer Vanessa Bauer (born 1996), German professional ice skater Vanessa Bayer (born 1981), American actress, comedian, and cast member on Saturday Night Live Vanessa Beauchaints, Martinique beauty pageant titleholder Vanessa Beavis, New Zealand anaesthesiologist and lecturer Vanessa Beecroft (born 1969), Italian-born American contemporary performance artist Vanessa Beeley (born 1963/1964), British activist and blogger
Vanessa Bell (1879–1961), English painter and interior designer; sister of author Virginia Woolf Vanessa Bell Armstrong (born 1953), American R&B- and gospel singer Vanessa Bell Calloway (born 1957), American actress Vanessa Belvedere, Australian student; contestant on Married at First Sight (Australian TV series) season 4 Vanessa Benelli Mosell (born 1987), Italian pianist and conductor Vanessa Bernauer (born 1988), Swiss former footballer Vanessa Bishop, British writer Vanessa Blé (born 1991), Ivorian-born Spanish professional basketball player Vanessa Bleyer (born 1975 or 1976), Australian politician Vanessa Block, American film director, producer, and screenwriter Vanessa Blockmans (born 2002), Belgian field hockey player Vanessa Blue, American pornographic actress, producer, online model, and director Vanessa Bolosier, French Caribbean food writer Vanessa Borgli (born 1972), Norwegian actress Vanessa Borne, ring name of Danielle Kamela (born 1988), American professional wrestler and actress Vanessa Boslak (born 1982), French pole vaulter Vanessa Boubryemm (born 1982), French freestyle wrestler Vanessa Bowen (born 1974), Sri Lankan former cricketer Vanessa Bradley (born 1976), Australian former rugby union player Vanessa Brady (born 1959), English interior designer and businesswoman Vanessa Branch (born 1973), English-American actress and model Vanessa Branson (born 1959), English businesswoman and author; founder of the Marrakech Biennale Vanessa Briscoe Hay (born 1955), American singer Vanessa Brown (1928–1999), Austrian-born American radio-, film-, theater-, and television actress Vanessa Bruno, French clothing designer; former model, singer, and actress Vanessa Bryant (born 1982), American businesswoman, philanthropist, nonprofit executive, former model, and widow of NBA player Kobe Bryant Vanessa Burggraf (born 1971), French journalist, television presenter, and columnist Vanessa Bürki (born 1986), Swiss former footballer Vanessa Byrnes, New Zealand director, actress, and educator Vanessa C. Tyson, American political scientist, politician, and associate professor of politics Vanessa Cailhol, French actress, dancer, and singer Vanessa Cantave (born 1977), American chef Vanessa Cárdenas (born 1981), Venezuelan model and beauty pageant titleholder Vanessa Carlton (born 1980), American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress Vanessa Carswell, New Zealand architect Vanessa Caston LaFleur, American attorney and politician Vanessa Caswill, English director and screenwriter Vanessa Cattoi (born 1980), Italian politician Vanessa Cavanagh (1983–2002), English actress and singer Vanessa Chalá (born 1990), Ecuadorian judoka Vanessa Chefer Spínola (born 1990), Brazilian heptathlete Vanessa Chikupira (born 1996), Malawian footballer Vanessa Chinitor (born 1976), Belgian singer Vanessa Chu (born 1994), Hong Kong professional squash player Vanessa Civiello (born 1991), German contestant on Deutschland sucht den Superstar season 6 Vanessa Claire Stewart (born 1976), American actress, producer, and writer Vanessa Claudio (born 1983), Puerto Rican television personality, model, and former beauty pageant contestant Vanessa Clerveaux (born 1994), American-born Haitian hurdler Vanessa Coello (born 1995), Venezuelan model and beauty pageant titleholder Vanessa Coffey (born 1958), American television- and film producer Vanessa Coleman (born 1988), American criminal convicted of facilitating the kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder of Channon Christian Vanessa Collier, American blues-, funk-, and soul saxophonist, singer, and songwriter Vanessa Collingridge (born 1968), English author and broadcaster Vanessa Cootes (born 1969), New Zealand former rugby union player Vanessa Córdoba (born 1995), Colombian professional footballer Vanessa Corish, Australian-born singer-songwriter and record producer Vanessa Cozzi (born 1984), Brazilian Olympic rower Vanessa Cristina de Souza (born 1989), Brazilian wheelchair racer Vanessa Crone (born 1990), Canadian former competitive ice dancer Vanessa Cruez (born 1996), Malaysian model, actress, and director Vanessa Curry (born c. 1990), American model, dancer, and singer Vanessa Czarnecki (born 1979), American-born Greek softball player Vanessa Dalzon (born 1996), Haitian journalist and author Vanessa da Mata (born 1976), Brazilian singer, songwriter, and novelist Vanessa Daou (born 1967), American singer, songwriter, poet, visual artist, and dancer Vanessa Davies (born 1969), Venezuelan journalist Vanessa Davis, several people Vanessa de Jesus (born 2002), Filipino-American college basketball player Vanessa de la Torre (born 1978), Colombian journalist Vanessa Delgado (born 1977), American politician and housing advocate Vanessa de Lisle, English fashion journalist Vanessa del Rio (born 1952), American retired pornographic actress Vanessa de Luca, American journalist and magazine editor Vanessa Demopoulos (born 1988), American mixed martial artist Vanessa Demouy (born 1973), French actress and model Vanessa de Oliveira (born 1975), Brazilian writer and former call girl Vanessa De Roide (born 1987), Puerto Rican TV host, model, and beauty pageant titleholder Vanessa DiBernardo (born 1992), American NWSL player Vanessa Diffenbaugh (born 1978), American non-fiction writer and novelist Vanessa DiMauro (born 1967), American community builder, researcher, and non-fiction writer Vanessa Djiepmou (born 1990), Cameroonian handball player Vanessa Djomo (born 1998), Cameroonian footballer Vanessa Dobos, American Air Force aerial gunner Vanessa Dorman (born 1969), American actress Vanessa Downing (born 1958), Australian actress, theatre director, singer, voice artist, and lawyer Vanessa Duriès (1972–1993), French novelist Vanessa E. Wyche, American engineer and civil servant Vanessa Echols (born 1960), American former television journalist and news anchor Vanessa Elliott, Australian geologist Vanessa Emme, Irish stage- and television actress