UK name, mostly girls
Jessi
A feminine diminutive form of the Hebrew name "Jesse", meaning "gift" or "wealthy".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jessi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Jessi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 10 births.
This profile covers 106 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 105 living people in the UK are called Jessi. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jessi ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 10 girls were registered as Jessi.
- • About 105 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jessi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 97.2% of Jessi registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
10 births
Estimated living
105
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Jessi
In England and Wales birth records, Jessi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 2.8% of registrations are for boys and 97.2% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Jessi registered for boys
- Ranked #4,052 in 2006
- 3 boys registered in 2006
- Peak: 2006 (3 births)
Jessi registered for girls
- Ranked #5,669 in 2022
- 3 girls registered in 2022
- Peak: 2012 (10 births)
Meaning
What does Jessi mean?
The name Jessi is a variant of the Hebrew name Jesse, which has its roots in the Biblical figure Jesse, the father of King David. The name Jesse is derived from the Hebrew word "Ishai," which means "gift" or "present."
In the Old Testament, Jesse is mentioned as the son of Obed and the father of eight sons, including the famous King David. He is described as a respected man from the town of Bethlehem and a member of the tribe of Judah. The name Jesse gained popularity among Christians due to its association with the lineage of Jesus Christ, who was believed to be a descendant of King David.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Jesse can be found in the biblical Book of Ruth, which is believed to have been written around the 6th century BCE. The name also appears in other books of the Old Testament, such as 1 Samuel and Isaiah.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Jesse or Jessi. One of the most famous was Jesse Owens, the American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, defying Adolf Hitler's notion of Aryan superiority. Another well-known figure was Jesse James, the notorious American outlaw and gang leader who was active in the mid-19th century.
In the world of literature, Jesse L. Hurlbut (1843-1930) was an American author and educator known for his children's books, including "Hurlbut's Story of the Bible." Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) was an English mathematician and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of scientific instruments.
Jessi Colter (born Mirriam Johnson in 1943) is an American country music singer-songwriter and author, known for her collaborations with her husband, the legendary Waylon Jennings. She is also recognized for her own hits, such as "I'm Not Lisa" and "Borned to Love You."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jessi over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jessi in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jessi, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jessi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jessi 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 | #5625 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4799 | 40 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3062 | 52 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3254 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Jessi
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Jessi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jessi in the UK right now?
In 2022, Jessi was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jessi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 10 babies registered as Jessi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jessi?
A feminine diminutive form of the Hebrew name "Jesse", meaning "gift" or "wealthy".
How many people are called Jessi in the UK?
A total of 106 babies have been registered as Jessi across the 22 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.