Nessa
Say it: NESS-a/ˈnɛsə/
GirlIrishMythology5 letters2 syllables
#239
in Ireland (2025)
#241 with spellings combined
18
babies in 2025
#127
best rank (1975)
889
babies since 1964
Down 49
10-year rank change
Nessa through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #241 |
| 2024 | 13 | #310 |
| 2023 | 18 | #227 |
| 2022 | 16 | #269 |
| 2021 | 21 | #226 |
| 2020 | 15 | #275 |
| 2019 | 22 | #221 |
| 2018 | 25 | #198 |
| 2017 | 24 | #211 |
| 2016 | 17 | #273 |
| 2015 | 29 | #192 |
| 2014 | 28 | #189 |
| 2013 | 21 | #246 |
| 2012 | 20 | #251 |
| 2011 | 20 | #258 |
| 2010 | 18 | #294 |
| 2009 | 20 | #254 |
| 2008 | 24 | #230 |
| 2007 | 13 | #327 |
| 2006 | 17 | #247 |
| 2005 | 14 | #263 |
| 2004 | 7 | #414 |
| 2003 | 8 | #362 |
| 2002 | 14 | #254 |
| 2001 | 12 | #266 |
| 2000 | 10 | #284 |
| 1999 | 7 | #323 |
| 1998 | 4 | #426 |
| 1997 | 10 | #304 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 11 | #283 |
| 1994 | 7 | #350 |
| 1993 | 5 | #415 |
| 1992 | 8 | #339 |
| 1991 | 5 | #423 |
| 1990 | 12 | #268 |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
| 1988 | 6 | #381 |
| 1987 | 5 | #417 |
| 1986 | 16 | #240 |
| 1985 | 14 | #254 |
| 1984 | 7 | #365 |
| 1983 | 19 | #232 |
| 1982 | 12 | #300 |
| 1981 | 14 | #272 |
| 1980 | 17 | #258 |
| 1979 | 14 | #286 |
| 1978 | 16 | #253 |
| 1977 | 10 | #311 |
| 1976 | 29 | #191 |
| 1975 | 56 | #127 |
| 1974 | 29 | #192 |
| 1973 | 19 | #232 |
| 1972 | 6 | #352 |
| 1971 | 9 | #289 |
| 1970 | 12 | #243 |
| 1969 | 6 | #322 |
| 1968 | 9 | #258 |
| 1967 | 6 | #288 |
| 1966 | 5 | #310 |
| 1965 | 6 | #282 |
| 1964 | 5 | #300 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Nessa mean?
Uncertain; one old tale explains it as "not gentle"
Irish, from Ness or Neasa, mother of Conchobar mac Nessa; also a short form of Vanessa.
Say it right
NESSa
The story of Nessa
Nessa has two roots. In Ireland it is the name of Ness, or Neasa in modern Irish, the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of tales. Elsewhere it is often simply a short form of Vanessa.
Ness is one of the strongest women in the old stories. One version says she was first called Assa, “gentle”, and became Ní-assa, “not gentle”, after she raised a band of warriors to avenge her foster-fathers. The real origin of the name is not certain, and that story may be a later explanation. She went on to win the throne of Ulster for her son by persuading Fergus mac Róich to give it up for a year.
Nessa has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records. It was most popular in the 1970s, peaking in 1975 with 56 girls, at number 127. It is still a small, steady choice, with 18 girls in 2025. The Irish spelling Neasa is counted separately.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ness (Irish mythology)
- Wikipedia: Nessa (given name)
- Wiktionary: Nessa (English proper noun)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Nessa | 18 | 889 |
In Northern Ireland
#397 in 2025 with 3 babies. Best rank #337 (2024); 16 babies since 2013.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.