The story behind Jessica
First used by William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice in the early 17th century, probably from Hebrew יִסְכָּה (yiská, “Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version”), a proper name meaning "he will see/behold/look for", the 3ms imperfect form of a verb ultimately from the root ס־כ־ה (s-k-h), itself an alternative form of the root שׂ־כ־ה (ś-k-h), both of which mean "to see, behold, look for". * By folk etymology seen as an elaborate form of Jessie, from Jane.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
French entry
Borrowed from English Jessica, popular at the end of the 20th century.
Spanish entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Jessica.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈd͡ʒɛsɪkə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- French: /ʒɛ.si.ka/
- French: /ʒe.si.ka/
- Spanish: /ˈʝesika/
- Spanish: [ˈɟ͡ʝe.si.ka]
- Spanish: /ˈʃesika/
- Spanish: [ˈʃe.si.ka]
- Spanish: /ˈʒesika/
- Spanish: [ˈʒe.si.ka]
Popularity
Jessica ranked #665 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Jessica
Jemima
From the name of a minor biblical character, from Hebrew יְמִימָה (“dove”). By folk etymology also used as a feminine form of James.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jerusha
From Hebrew ירושה.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jéssica
Borrowed from English Jessica.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jessika
From English Jessica, partly through Swedish.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Judyta
From Hebrew יְהוּדִית (Y'hudít, “woman from Judea, Jewess”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abdia
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew עוֹבַדְיָה (ovadya).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Jessica
Barak
From Hebrew בָּרָק (“lightning”). From Arabic بَارَك (bārak, “he who is blessed”). Cognate with the biblical name Baruch of Hebrew origin. The usage of the root ب ر ك (b r k)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends K
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Baruch
Borrowed from Hebrew בָּרוּךְ (Barukh, “blessed”). Cognate with Arabic بَارَك (bārak, “Barak”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Belchior
Alteration of Melchior, from Latin Melchior, from Hebrew מלכיאור.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Jessica
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length