Gender:

Female

Meaning:

Wealthy; foresight (from Hebrew: yiskāh)

History:

The name is considered to have been coined by William Shakespeare. Its first written record was found in the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Shakespeare named one of his characters Jescha (or Jessica, as we would spell it nowadays) deriving from the biblical Iscah.

Although the play had been first staged in 1596, Jessica became popular as a given name only in the 20th century.

In Catholicism the feast day of Saint Jessica is celebrated on 24th May. The name Jessica is regarded another form of Joanna. Although information about St. Joanna is scarce, we know a few facts from St. Luke’s Gospel. According to it, she was married to Chuza, king Herod’s steward. She provided food and other necessary goods for Jesus and his disciples out of her own resources. St. Joanna was, along with Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of James, first to discover the empty tomb of Jesus Christ after he had resurrected.

Alternative spellings & nicknames:

Jessicah, Jessicka, Jessickah, Jessika, Jessikah, Jessycka, Jessyckah, Jessyka, Jessykah

Short form: Jess (also used as a male name)
Nickname: Jessie, Jesse

Similar names in other languages & name days:

Germany
20th October, 29th December: Jessica
Italy:
1st November: Gessica, Jessica
Latvia
3rd May: Jesika
Poland:
4th November: Jessica, Jesica, Dżesika
Slovak Republic:
4th November: Jesika
Spain
17th December: Jésica, Yésica, Jessica
USA
24th May: Jessie, Jessica, Jessika

Albania: Xhesika
France: Jessica
Greece: Tzesika
Hungary: Dzsesszika
Lithuania: Džesika
Russia: Dzhessika
Switzerland: Jessi

Famous people named Jessica:

Jessica Alba (1981-) - American actress
Jessica Biel (1982-) - American actress
Jessica Chastain (1977-) - American actress and film producer
Jessica Ennis (1986-) - British athlete
Jessica Holmes (1976-) - American TV presenter
Jessica Jung (1989-) - American actress and singer
Jessica Mitford (1917 - 1996) - British author, journalist and civil rights campaigner
Jessica Simpson (1980-) - American pop singer
Sarah Jessica Parker (1965-) - American actress

Fun facts:

Popularity (2015)

USA: 206th
England and Wales: 7th
Scotland: 5th
Canada: 83rd
Australia: 46th
New Zealand: 30th

Lucky colors: black, blue, gray
Lucky stone: Black Onyx
Ruling planet: Saturn
Characteristics: sociable, expressive, competitive, strong-willed, influential, creative

1. Jessica was the most popular name in the USA in years 1985-1990, then dropped to the second place only to become number one again in years 1993-1995.
2. The name is much more common in the USA population than in the UK.
3. Jessica Rabbit is a popular cartoon character.
4. Jess is the name of the main character in American sitcom ‘New Girl’ (2011) played by Zooey Deschanel.