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Vanessa

Girl name · 650 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Vanessa: 650 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 28 births in 1995.

Coined by Jonathan Swift in his 1713 poem *Cadenus and Vanessa*, the name blends the first syllable of Esther Vanhomrigh’s surname with ‘Essa’, a pet form of Esther – making it a literary invention with no ancient root. Its most distinguished bearers include the Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, whose family has dominated British stage and screen for generations, and the American singer-actress Vanessa Williams, who broke barriers as the first Black Miss America. There are no direct place connections, but the name later gave its scientific title to a genus of colourful butterflies, including the red admiral. Popular across Scotland since the mid‑20th century, Vanessa remains a name of modern elegance rather than historical depth.