Jess
Meaning
short form of Jesse, traditionally 'gift'
The formal names behind Jess
Jess is an established short form of each of these names.
Jessica · Hebrew origin · God beholds
Jesse · Hebrew origin · from Hebrew Yishai, of uncertain meaning; proposed roots include "gift" and "existence"
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Jess peaked in the 1890s and the 2000s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
94 people · the #43,073 first name in Brazil · median age 38
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Jess
Most people given the name Jess in the United States were born between 1950 and 1999. The Jess you meet today is most often in his 40s or 50s.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Jess deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Jess truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Jess fits with your family’s names and surname.
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