When was Vanessa most popular?

The name Vanessa reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Vanessa Mena?

The name Vanessa Mena combines two different traditions: the first name Vanessa has Irish roots, while the surname Mena originates from Spanish.

Vanessa Mena — 172K & 20K bearers

Vanessa Mena is a name that combines Irish origins. The first name Vanessa is a feminine given name of Irish origin. Vanessa is a feminine given name. It was created by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, whom Swift had met in 1708 and whom he tutored. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", a pet form of Esther. In 1726, the name Vanessa appeared in print for the first time in "Cadenus and Vanessa", an autobiographical poem about Swift's relationship with Vanhomrigh. Swift had written the poem in 1713, but it was not published until three years after Vanhomrigh died. The surname Mena: Mena (also: Spanish: de Mena, Basque: Menaca) is a Spanish surname that originates as both a Basque and Spanish Sephardic surname. It is also a given name, Mena. The Meena tribe of India is also spelled as Mena. Basque meaning Found in the valley of Mena (Alava, which today is Burgos), with branches in Bilbao and in Dima (Biscay) and it appears to have also moved from there into Navarre; regions now part of Spain. It appears to mean mineral or a vein of mineral deposits. However, at least one author, Lopez Mendizabal, holds that its meaning is pastoral. Vanessa is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 172K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Vanessa reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Vanessa

Meaning: butterfly

Irish

Vanessa is a feminine given name. It was created by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, whom Swift had met in 1708 and whom he tutored. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", a pet form of Esther. In 1726, the name Vanessa appeared in print for the first time in "Cadenus and Vanessa", an autobiographical poem about Swift's relationship with Vanhomrigh. Swift had written the poem in 1713, but it was not published until three years after Vanhomrigh died.

Surname: Mena

Spanish

Mena (also: Spanish: de Mena, Basque: Menaca) is a Spanish surname that originates as both a Basque and Spanish Sephardic surname. It is also a given name, Mena. The Meena tribe of India is also spelled as Mena. Basque meaning Found in the valley of Mena (Alava, which today is Burgos), with branches in Bilbao and in Dima (Biscay) and it appears to have also moved from there into Navarre; regions now part of Spain. It appears to mean mineral or a vein of mineral deposits. However, at least one author, Lopez Mendizabal, holds that its meaning is pastoral.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Vanessa is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Vanessa by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Vanessa Mena

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Vanessa Mena:

6

Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

4

Soul Urge Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

2

Personality Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Vanessa?: The first name Vanessa originates from Irish. Vanessa is a feminine given name. It was created by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, whom Swift had met in 1708 and whom he tutored. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", a pet form of Esther. In 1726, the name Vanessa appeared in print for the first time in "Cadenus and Vanessa", an autobiographical poem about Swift's relationship with Vanhomrigh. Swift had written the poem in 1713, but it was not published until three years after Vanhomrigh died.
When was Vanessa most popular?: The name Vanessa reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Mena?: The surname Mena originates from Spanish. Mena (also: Spanish: de Mena, Basque: Menaca) is a Spanish surname that originates as both a Basque and Spanish Sephardic surname. It is also a given name, Mena. The Meena tribe of India is also spelled as Mena. Basque meaning Found in the valley of Mena (Alava, which today is Burgos), with branches in Bilbao and in Dima (Biscay) and it appears to have also moved from there into Navarre; regions now part of Spain. It appears to mean mineral or a vein of mineral deposits. However, at least one author, Lopez Mendizabal, holds that its meaning is pastoral.
What are the origins of the name Vanessa Mena?: The name Vanessa Mena combines two different traditions: the first name Vanessa has Irish roots, while the surname Mena originates from Spanish.