Total births
881
Girls' name · since 1920
Vernessa
Vernessa has 881 recorded births since 1920 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1960 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 881
- total births
- 1920–1994
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
881 girls have been named Vernessa since 1920, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Vernessa has been recorded 881 times among girls since 1920, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1920 to 1994.
- 881 total births
- 1920–1994 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 39% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
881 girls have been named Vernessa since 1920, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1994.
- 881
- total births
- 1920–1994
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
39% of everyone ever named Vernessa was born in this single decade.
1960
Single peak year
68 babies were named Vernessa in 1960 - its busiest year on record.
Vernessa's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Vernessa's SSA record in two at 1970 and the more recent half accounts for 25% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 75%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1920, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1960 peak of 68, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Vernessa at a glance
Last recorded 1994Peak year
1960
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1920
Vernessa popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1920–1994
- Peak year (1960)
- 68
- Annual births at peak, across 75 years of records
Vernessa by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Vernessa's strongest decade.
347 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Vernessa births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 5
1920s
5 births
- 1940s 10
1940s
10 births
- 1950s
1950s
302 births
- 1960s
1960s
347 births
- 1970s
1970s
141 births
- 1980s 61
1980s
61 births
- 1990s 15
1990s
15 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 347 births (39% of all-time use).
How Vernessa 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 Vernessa's total volume
Vernessa vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Vernessa by state
Where Vernessa concentrates geographically, total births since 1920
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Carolina | | 43 | 4.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 36 | 4.1% |
| #3 | New York | | 28 | 3.2% |
| #4 | Alabama | | 17 | 1.9% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 17 | 1.9% |
| #6 | Florida | | 7 | 0.8% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 7 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Maryland | | 6 | 0.7% |
South Carolina share of Vernessa's total US births 4.9%
Even split
43 of 881 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 12 reporting states.
Vernessa appears in 12 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Vernessa? ▼
Since 1920, Social Security records show 881 babies named Vernessa. The most recent recorded year was 1994. Its busiest year on record was 1960, with 68 births.
When was Vernessa most popular? ▼
Vernessa was most popular in the 1960s decade with 347 total births. The single peak year was 1960.
Where is Vernessa most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Vernessa are South Carolina (43 births), Texas (36 births), New York (28 births).
How long has the name Vernessa been used? ▼
Vernessa has been recorded in Social Security data since 1920, spanning 75 years of data through 1994.
What names are similar to Vernessa? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Veronica, Vera, Verna, Verda, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Vernessa's data
- Vernessa's decade-level peak was the 1960s (347 total births); usage has since declined to 15 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- South Carolina records the most Vernessas (43 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. South Carolina 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 Vernessa
Nearby Names Like Vernessa
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Vernessa
Veronica Girl
#392 223,775 births
Vera Girl
#226 149,456 births
Verna Girl
#4894 69,113 births
Verda Girl
8,062 births
Vernice Girl
7,290 births
Compare Vernessa side by side: Vernessa vs Veronica Vernessa vs Vera Vernessa vs Verna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1920–1994 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Vernessa: Baby Name Since 1920 - 881 Births, Peak 1960." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/vernessa. 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 Vernessa 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 June 2026.