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.
- #10,356 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 618
- born since 1976
- 2000s
- peak 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.
- #10,356 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 618 born since 1976
- 2000s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Jennessa ranks #10,356 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 618 born since 1976, peaking in the 2000s.
- #10,356 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 618
- born since 1976
- 2000s
- peak decade
Jennessa's 618 recorded births place it above 85.67% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by California.
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 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
2000s is the heaviest window (241 births, 39% of the file).
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 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% |
55 of 618 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Jennessa side by side: Jennessa vs Jennifer Jennessa vs Jenna Jennessa vs Jennie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Jennessa: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~2006)
Similar record span (~42 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.