Jessica

Meaning: Its source is Iscah, a Hebrew name meaning "He beholds."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Dutch and English.

Nicknames: Jess, Jessie and Jecca

Compound Forms: Jessicalynn and Tessica

Alternative Spellings: Jesaca, Jesica, Jesicca, Jesika, Jessaca, Jessicca, Jessicka, Jessika, Jessiqua, Jessyca, Jessyka, Jesseca and Jesyka

Variant Forms: Jassica, Jesenia, Jessa, Jessah, Jessamyn, Jessca, Jesscia, Jessia, Jessicia, Jessiya, Jezika, Yessica, Jezeca, Jezica, Jezyca, Lajessica, Tjessica, Jesca and Jyssika

Source Forms: Iscah

Popularity: The name Jessica ranked 13th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 26th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 1st in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.

This name is highly rated both on the 1990 U.S. Census list and in state data recording the most popular baby names.

Narrative: William Shakespeare invented the modern name Jessica for Shylock's daughter in his play The Merchant of Venice. Though he may have intended it to denote a typical Jewish girl, the name has become popular with all ethnic groups.

Leadership

Jessica McCullough Weis (born 1901, died 1963)
American politician.
- Representative, R-New York, 1959-63 (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)

Stage and Screen

Jessica Bridges
- The daughter of Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston (see list of see Celebrity Babies)
Jessica Buchanan
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''One Life to Live'''' (see list of Characters on ''One Life to Live'')
Jessica Dragonette (born 1910, died 1980)
Indian opera singer.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (see list of Radio Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Jessica Beatrice Fletcher
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Angela Lansbury (see list of Characters on ''Murder, She Wrote'')
Jessica Forrester
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''The Bold and the Beautiful'''' (see list of Characters on ''The Bold and The Beautiful'')
Jessica Griffin
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''As the World Turns'''' (see list of Characters on ''As The World Turns'')
Jessica Lange (born 1949)
American actress and producer.
- 1994 Academy Award winner for her performance in Blue Sky (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Actress)
- 1982 Academy Award winner for her performance in Tootsie (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Supporting Actress)
Jessica Tandy (born 1909, died 1994)
American actress.
- Three-time Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Play: 1948, for A Streetcar Named Desire; 1978, for The Gin Game; 1983, for Foxfire (see list of Tony Winners for Best Actress in a Play)
- 1989 Academy Award winner for her performance in Driving Miss Daisy (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Actress)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- 1986 Kennedy Center Honors recipient (see list of Kennedy Center Honors Recipients)
Jessica Tate
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Katherine Helmond (see list of Characters on ''Soap'')

The Literary World

Jessica
- Shylock''s daughter in The Merchant of Venice (see list of Shakespearean Characters)


Jassica
Jesaca
Jesica
Jesicca
Jesika
Jessaca
Jessicca
Jessicia
Jessicka
Jessika
Jessiqua
Jessyca
Jessyka
Jezika
Jesseca
Jezeca
Jezica
Jezyca
Jyssika
Jesyka
Jesusa
Josias
Jucika