Vanessa Selby

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Vanessa Selby — butterfly
172K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
Advertisement

Vanessa Selby 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 Selby: Selby is both a given name and surname. Selby Ash (1836–1870), English cricketer Selby Baqwa, Public Protector of South Africa from 1995 to 2002 Selby Beeler, female American author Selby Burt (1903–1959), Australian cricketer Selby Clewer (1917–2001), English architect Selby Khumalo (born 1971), South African politician Selby Mbenenge (born 1961), South African judge Selby McFarlane (1891–1976), Australian rugby league footballer Selby Munsie (1870–1938), Australian politician Selby Mvusi (1929–1967), South African artist Selby Norton (1836–1906), English doctor Selby Ripinga (born 1948), Sou. 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: Selby

English

Selby is both a given name and surname. Selby Ash (1836–1870), English cricketer Selby Baqwa, Public Protector of South Africa from 1995 to 2002 Selby Beeler, female American author Selby Burt (1903–1959), Australian cricketer Selby Clewer (1917–2001), English architect Selby Khumalo (born 1971), South African politician Selby Mbenenge (born 1961), South African judge Selby McFarlane (1891–1976), Australian rugby league footballer Selby Munsie (1870–1938), Australian politician Selby Mvusi (1929–1967), South African artist Selby Norton (1836–1906), English doctor Selby Ripinga (born 1948), Sou.

Advertisement

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
Advertisement

Notable People Named Vanessa Selby

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 Selby:

9
Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

3
Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

6
Personality Number

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

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 Selby?
The surname Selby originates from English. Selby is both a given name and surname. Selby Ash (1836–1870), English cricketer Selby Baqwa, Public Protector of South Africa from 1995 to 2002 Selby Beeler, female American author Selby Burt (1903–1959), Australian cricketer Selby Clewer (1917–2001), English architect Selby Khumalo (born 1971), South African politician Selby Mbenenge (born 1961), South African judge Selby McFarlane (1891–1976), Australian rugby league footballer Selby Munsie (1870–1938), Australian politician Selby Mvusi (1929–1967), South African artist Selby Norton (1836–1906), English doctor Selby Ripinga (born 1948), Sou.
What are the origins of the name Vanessa Selby?
The name Vanessa Selby combines two different traditions: the first name Vanessa has Irish roots, while the surname Selby originates from English.
Advertisement