Jess

Jess is a boy's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 22 boys in the United States.

Jess at a glance

Gender
Boy name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/d͡ʒɛs/

About the name Jess

Jess belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Jess first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #109 in 1887, and in 2024 22 babies received the name — 25,045 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Jess in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#109 in 1887
Peak year
1915
Babies named Jess in 2024
22
Total since 1880
25,045

Jess in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#869 in 1999
Babies named Jess in 2025
3
Total since 1996
156

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Jess mean?

The meaning of Jess is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Jess a boy or girl name?

Jess is a boy name. In 2024, 22 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Jess?

Jess comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Jess?

Jess first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #109 in 1887, and 22 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Jess?

Jess is pronounced /d͡ʒɛs/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.