Meaning, origin, history
Jessica is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the male name "Caesius", which means "like the emperor". The name was popularized by Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice", where Jessica is the daughter of Shylock who elopes with Lorenzo to convert to Christianity.
The name Jessica has been used throughout history, but it gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century. It reached peak popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, where it was consistently ranked among the top 100 names for girls.
Today, Jessica remains a popular name around the world, with variations such as Jesse, Jesseca, and Jessika also being used. Despite its origins and history, the name Jessica does not have any specific cultural or religious significance beyond its meaning of "like the emperor". Instead, it is simply appreciated for its sound and its association with strong female characters in literature and popular culture.
In summary, Jessica is a feminine given name of Latin origin that means "like the emperor". Popularized by Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice", the name has been used throughout history but gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century. Today, it remains a popular name around the world and does not have any specific cultural or religious significance beyond its meaning.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Jessica since 1880
Total births
3,578
Total since 1880
Peak year
1989
252 births
in 2016
5
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-100%
↘
vs previous 5 years