Total births
618
Girls' name · since 1976
Jennessa
Jennessa has 618 recorded births since 1976 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2006 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 618
- total births
- 1976–2018
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
Jennessa is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 618 have been recorded since 1976.
Social Security Administration records show Jennessa recorded 618 times among girls since 1976, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1976 to 2018.
- 618 total births
- 1976–2018 years on record
- 2000s peak decade
- 39% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
618 girls have been named Jennessa since 1976, peaking in the 2000s, last recorded in 2018.
- 618
- total births
- 1976–2018
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
2000s
Peak decade
39% of everyone ever named Jennessa was born in this single decade.
2006
Single peak year
35 babies were named Jennessa in 2006 - its busiest year on record.
Jennessa's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Jennessa's SSA record in two at 1999 and the more recent half accounts for 64% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 36%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1976, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2006 peak of 35, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Jennessa at a glance
Last recorded 2018Peak year
2006
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1976
Jennessa popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1976–2018
- Peak year (2006)
- 35
- Annual births at peak, across 43 years of records
Jennessa by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Jennessa's strongest decade.
241 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Jennessa births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 14
1970s
14 births
- 1980s 80
1980s
80 births
- 1990s
1990s
145 births
- 2000s
2000s
241 births
- 2010s
2010s
138 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 241 births (39% of all-time use).
How Jennessa compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Jennessa's total volume
Jennessa vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Jennessa by state
Where Jennessa concentrates geographically, total births since 1976
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 55 | 8.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 5 | 0.8% |
California share of Jennessa's total US births 8.9%
Even split
55 of 618 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Jennessa? ▼
618 babies have been named Jennessa since 1976. It was last recorded in 2018. The peak year was 2006 with 35 births.
When was Jennessa most popular? ▼
Jennessa was most popular in the 2000s decade with 241 total births. The single peak year was 2006.
Where is Jennessa most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Jennessa are California (55 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Jennessa been used? ▼
Jennessa has been recorded in Social Security data since 1976, spanning 43 years of data through 2018.
What names are similar to Jennessa? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Jennifer, Jenna, Jennie, Jenny, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Jennessa's data
- Jennessa's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (241 total births) through the 2010s (138) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Jennessas (55 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Jennessa
Nearby Names Like Jennessa
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Jennessa
Jennifer Girl
#546 1,471,703 births
Jenna Girl
#683 148,587 births
Jennie Girl
#1753 127,181 births
Jenny Girl
#1391 92,101 births
Jenifer Girl
#5637 25,551 births
Compare Jennessa side by side: Jennessa vs Jennifer Jennessa vs Jenna Jennessa vs Jennie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1976–2018 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Jennessa: Baby Name Since 1976 - 618 Births, Peak 2006." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/jennessa. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Jennessa draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.