NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Janessa

A feminine name derived from Jane, of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Janessa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Janessa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 11 births.

This profile covers 65 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 65 living people in the UK are called Janessa. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Janessa ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 11 girls were registered as Janessa.
  • About 65 living people in the UK are estimated to have Janessa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2022

11 births

Estimated living

65

2026

Meaning

What does Janessa mean?

The name Janessa is a modern feminine variation of the name Janessa, which has its origins in the Hebrew language. The name traces its roots back to the biblical name Yochanan, which means "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is merciful."

The earliest known recorded use of the name Janessa dates back to the late 20th century. It is believed to have been created as a combination of the names Jane and Vanessa, both of which were popular names during that time period.

While the name Janessa itself does not appear in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Hebrew roots connect it to the biblical figure John the Baptist, whose name was Yochanan in Hebrew.

One of the earliest known people to bear the name Janessa was Janessa Brazil, an American actress born in 1978. She is best known for her role in the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Another notable Janessa is Janessa Crymes, an American basketball player who played in the WNBA for teams like the Seattle Storm and the San Antonio Stars in the early 2000s.

In the field of music, Janessa Ray is a Canadian singer-songwriter who gained popularity in the late 2000s with her album "Fairytale and Disaster." She was born in 1985.

Janessa Gourley is an Australian businesswoman and entrepreneur who co-founded the fashion and lifestyle brand Kikki.K in 2001. She was born in 1978.

Janessa Slaughter, born in 1983, is an American model and actress who has appeared in various television shows and films, including "Entourage" and "The Hangover Part III."

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Janessa throughout history, showcasing its modern yet meaningful origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Janessa over time

The chart below shows babies named Janessa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Janessa, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Janessa
036811199620102024

Decades

Janessa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Janessa was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4262 28 5
2010s #4942 28 7
2000s #5373 6 2
1990s #3795 3 1

Related

Names similar to Janessa

FAQ

Janessa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Janessa in the UK right now?

In 2024, Janessa was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Janessa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 11 babies registered as Janessa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Janessa?

A feminine name derived from Jane, of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

How many people are called Janessa in the UK?

A total of 65 babies have been registered as Janessa across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.