"God is gracious"
Jessie
Pronunciation: [ j-EHS-ee ]
Does Jessie flow with your last name?
A warm vintage gem with timeless Scottish roots
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Similar Names
Names Like Jessie
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Jessie
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"wealthy"
Playground Safety
Similar to Jessie
See all →What the Jessie report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Jessie the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Put Jessie head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →See what Jessie actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →The Story of Jessie
Jessie as a girl's name has two distinct roots. In Scotland, Jessie developed as an independent diminutive of Janet or Jean — both Scottish forms of the Hebrew Yohanah (John), meaning 'God is gracious.' Alternatively, it's used as a feminine form of Jesse, from the Hebrew Yishai meaning 'gift' or 'wealthy.' As a given name in its own right, Jessie has been used in Scotland since the 18th century and became fashionable throughout the English-speaking world in the 19th century.
Jessie was a staple name in the late Victorian era and early 20th century, particularly in Scotland and America. It dipped significantly mid-century as more formal names were favored, but enjoyed a revival in the 1980s partly through the popular children's TV characters bearing the name. It's now experiencing a quiet resurgence as parents rediscover vintage names that feel warm and approachable.
In Scottish culture, Jessie holds a place of particular warmth — it was used both as an independent name and as a familiar name for girls named Janet. The famous Scottish phrase 'Jessie' has sometimes been used as a lighthearted term in British culture, but as a given name it carries wholesome, cheerful associations.
Historical Record
Jessie first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 49,370 babies have been named Jessie in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Jessie is past its peak , currently ranked #807 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Jessie J, the British pop singer, was born Jessica Ellen Cornish and chose Jessie as her stage name
- Jessie was a top-20 girl's name in Scotland throughout the Victorian era
- In the Toy Story franchise, Jessie the Cowgirl became one of the most beloved fictional characters with this name, voiced by Joan Cusack
Jessie in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Jessie
Jessie J
Musician
1988
British pop singer-songwriter known for Price Tag, Bang Bang, and Do It Like a Dude
Jessie Ware
Musician
1984
British soul and pop singer known for albums What's Your Pleasure? and That! Feels Good!
Jessie the Cowgirl Fictional
Other
Beloved fictional character in Pixar's Toy Story franchise, Woody's loyal friend and enthusiastic yodeling cowgirl
Names You Might Also Love
See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #807
- Total SSA Count
- 348
- Cultural Origins
- English Scottish American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Jessie
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Jessie fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Jessie is also used as a boy name, ranked #1266.
View Jessie as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Jessie →For Parents
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Jessie with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Jessie
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Jessie and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Jessie sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →Hebrew origin
"gracious judge"
#680 in US
Irish Gaelic origin
"dream, vision"
#909 in US
Old French/Latin origin
"journey, life's path, travel"
#621 in US
Middle English origin
"one who lives near the castle outer wall"
#991 in US
Ancient Greek origin
"from the city of Larisa"
#740 in US
Latin origin
"youthful, downy-bearded"
#974 in US
French origin
"sun"
#824 in US
Lakota Sioux origin
"people of a different speech, alien s..."
#871 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Jessie's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jessie
What does the name Jessie mean?
What is the origin of the name Jessie?
Is Jessie a boy or girl name?
How do you pronounce Jessie?
How popular is the name Jessie?
What are common nicknames for Jessie?
What are good middle names for Jessie?
What are good sibling names for Jessie?
How many syllables does Jessie have?
Is Jessie a common or rare name?
What girl names are similar to Jessie?
About the Name Jessie
Jessie is a girl name with English, Scottish, and American origins . The name means "God is gracious" in Hebrew/Scottish .
Is Jessie a boy or girl name? Jessie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #807 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #1,266. Jessie is more commonly used as a girl name.
Jessie is currently ranked #807 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Jessie has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-EHS-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jessie include Jess and Jes. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jessie include Jessica, Jessa, Jesse, Jesslyn, Jessi . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Recommended for Parents
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis