Vanessa is a female given name of Latin origin. It means "butterfly" in Latin. The name was first used as a stage name by the Spanish actress Joséfa María Dolores Navarro y Gil, who performed under the name La Valenciana or La Chica de Éboli during the late 18th century. However, it wasn't until William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice," published around 1598-1600, that the name Vanessa gained popularity. In the play, a character named Vanessa is mentioned in Act III, Scene II.
The name Vanessa became even more popular after it was used as a stage name by the Spanish dancer and actress Ava Gardner during her early career. Since then, the name has been widely accepted and used around the world. Today, Vanessa is considered a classic yet elegant choice for a girl's name, still carrying the grace and beauty associated with its butterfly meaning.
In terms of usage, Vanessa has consistently ranked among the top 1000 most popular names in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It has also been used as a surname throughout history, with notable individuals such as Vanessa Redgrave, an Academy Award-winning actress, and Vanessa Bell, an influential painter of the Bloomsbury Group, carrying on its legacy.
According to the statistics provided, the name Vanness has seen a moderate increase in usage over the past few decades in the United States. In 1971, there were 5 babies born with the name Vanness. This number nearly doubled by 2012, reaching 8 births that year.
Over this period of time, from 1971 to 2012, a total of 13 babies were given the name Vanness in the United States. This steady growth in usage suggests that the name has maintained a consistent presence among parents' choices for their children's names over these years.
While this increase is not dramatic, it does indicate that the name Vanness continues to be selected by some families as they welcome new members into their lives.