- 1,864
- people in the U.S. have this name Get contact details for people named Vanessa Williams
Meaning & Origins
Name invented by Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) for his friend Esther Vanhomrigh. It seems to have been derived from the first syllable of her (Dutch) surname, with the addition of the suffix -essa (perhaps influenced by the first syllable of her given name). The name became fairly popular in the 20th century, being borne for example by the actress Vanessa Redgrave (b. 1937).
| 297th in the U.S. for 2011 |
English (also very common in Wales): patronymic from William.
| 3rd in the U.S. for 2011 |
Nicknames & variations
Vanesa, Vanessia, Vaness, Vanecia, Vanes, Vanesha, Vanesia, Vaneza, Vaneesa, Vanese
Willis, Williamson, William, Wills, Willard, Willoughby, Willingham, Willey, Willett, Will
Top state populations
U.S. Distribution Map
