Vanessa
Meaning: Its source is a Greek expression meaning "Butterflies."
Languages: This girl's name is used in Dutch, English, Italian and French.
Compound Forms: Jenessa, Vanita and Vannaleigh
Alternative Spellings: Vanesa, Vannesa, Vannessa, Venesa, Venessa, Vennesa, Vennessa, Vinessa and Vaneza
Variant Forms: Vanassa, Vaneeta, Vanesha, Vaneshia, Vanesia, Vanesse, Vanessia, Vanetta, Vaniece, Vaniessa, Vanisa, Vanissa, Vanneza, Varnessa, Venesha, Venesse, Venessia, Veniesa, Venisha, Venishia, Venna, Vennisa, Vinesha and Vinisha
Popularity: The name Vanessa ranked 66th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 195th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 25th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.
This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists of the 1990s, and has been trending upward in usage ever since.
Narrative: Some authorities claim it was invented by 18th century English writer Jonathan Swift as a pseudonym for Esther Vanhomrigh, based on the first syllable of her last name, and possibly the Latin verb esse, meaning ''to be.''
Swift described his love for her in his poem Cadenus and Vanessa.
In Japanese, some of the characters that represent this sound can be translated to mean innocent
Arts and Music
- Vanessa Bell (born 1879, died 1961)
English painter.
- Painted Lytton Strachey (see list of 20th-century Modern Artists)
- Vanessa Williams (born 1963)
American singer and actress. First black woman to be crowned Miss America, and first Miss America to be deposed (for appearing in Playboy).
- Musical guest on ''''Saturday Night Live'''' (see list of Musical Guests on ''Saturday Night Live'')
Leadership
- Vanessa Castagna
Businesswoman
- 48th Most Powerful Woman, EVP and COO, Stores, J.C. Penney (see list of 2000 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)
Miscellaneous
- Vanessa Williams (born 1963)
American singer and actress. First black woman to be crowned Miss America, and first Miss America to be deposed (for appearing in Playboy).
- 1984 Miss America (see list of Miss America Winners)
Stage and Screen
- Vanessa Angel (born 1963)
British actress.
- Portrayed Megan from 1991-92 (see list of Actors on ''Baywatch'')
- Vanessa Brown (born 1928, died 1999)
Austrian-born American actress, broadcast journalist and artist. Original name: Smylla Brind.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Vanessa Chamberlain
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''Guiding Light'''' (see list of Characters on ''Guiding Light'')
- Vanessa Huxtable
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Tempestt Bledsoe (see list of Characters on ''The Cosby Show'')
- Vanessa Marcil
American actress.
- Actress on soap opera ''''General Hospital'''' (see list of Performers on ''General Hospital'')
- Vanessa Marquez
Actress.
- Portrays Wendy Goldman, RN (see list of Actors on ''ER'')
- Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937)
English actress.
- 1977 Academy Award winner for her performance in Julia (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Supporting Actress)
- Winner of the 1966 and 1969 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress awards, for Morgan!--A Suitable Case for Treatment and Isadora (see list of Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Winners)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Nessie
- V-Dawg
- Van
- Vain
- Vee
- Vanessa the Undresser
- Van Nuys
- Ness-tea
- Loch Ness Monster
Name: Vanessa
List:
- Vanessa on Google
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