Jessica

girlEnglishChristian

Jessica is an girl name of English, from Hebrew origin, meaning “Possibly 'God beholds'”.

MeaningPossibly 'God beholds'
GenderGirl
OriginEnglish, from Hebrew
PronunciationJES-i-kuh
TraditionModern & Classic, Christian
Used inUnited States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada

Meaning and origin of Jessica

Jessica was first used by Shakespeare for Shylock's daughter in The Merchant of Venice. He probably based it on Iscah, a minor figure in Genesis 11:29, whose name appeared as Jesca in some English Bibles of his time. Iscah is often explained as 'she sees' or 'God beholds', though this is uncertain. Jessica became one of the most popular girls' names in the United States and Britain in the 1980s and 90s.

Is Jessica a religious name?

Jessica is not itself a biblical name, but it is thought to come from Iscah, Abraham's niece mentioned in Genesis.

How popular is Jessica?

Very common among women born in the 1980s and 90s.

Gifts with the name Jessica

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Spellings and variants of Jessica

JessikaIscahJessJessie

Names similar to Jessica

More girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Jessica mean?

Jessica means 'Possibly 'God beholds''. It is of English, from Hebrew origin.

Does Jessica have a religious meaning?

Jessica is not itself a biblical name, but it is thought to come from Iscah, Abraham's niece mentioned in Genesis.

How do you pronounce Jessica?

Jessica is pronounced JES-i-kuh.

Is Jessica a boy or girl name?

Jessica is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.