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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Jessica considered a classic?!

39 replies

stopitcaroline · 24/04/2015 17:23

I was reading through the thread on the most common girls names and someone mentioned Jessica as a classic. This blows my mind, but I am trying to keep in mind that I'm American and here Jessica is dated, like Brittany and Tiffany. I realize Jessica was invented by Shakespeare, but to me it seems less classic than even borderline classic names like those everybody was fighting about on the thread (Sophia, Isabella, Lily, etc.) And of course it has nothing at all on true (to me) classics like Elizabeth, Katherine, Jane, Anne, Caroline, Sarah, and Margaret.

So, wdyt? Is Jessica a classic name?

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Momagain1 · 24/04/2015 18:31

Jessica was popular in the US before the Brittany & Tiffany era. I knew several that pre-date that era.

Original poster
stopitcaroline · 24/04/2015 18:23

www.behindthename.com/name/jessica

He probably based it on Iscah.

OP posts:
squoosh · 24/04/2015 17:46

Wikipedia says Iscah.

squoosh · 24/04/2015 17:45

I think its Hebrew form is something like Iesca.

squoosh · 24/04/2015 17:44

Ha! good point toddler. Forgot about that. Grin

Who was her sister, Elizabeth? So Jessica and Elizabeth's parents had good taste at least.

vitaminC · 24/04/2015 17:43

It wasn't invited by Shakespeare ! It's a biblical (Hebrew) name, so it's definitely a traditional name.

To me, classic names are timeless and exist across all generations without going in or out of fashion.
I'm not sure whether that's really the case with Jessica, although I suspect so. I've only ever met one, so I don't think it's ever been popular like it was in the states!

squoosh · 24/04/2015 17:43

Even if it seems a bit dated its Shakespearean connection will always be its 'get out of jail free' card.

toddlerwrangling · 24/04/2015 17:42

Well one of the main characters in Sweet Valley High is called Jessica! I don't think of it as classic - as pp have said, instead dated but not trashy, like Jennifer. For some reason I know lots of little Jessicas at the moment though so maybe it's having a resurgence.

squoosh · 24/04/2015 17:39

Depends on your cultural references and your definition of classic I suppose.

To me Brittany and Tiffany are 1980's Sweet Valley High style names and I definitely wouldn't put Jessica alongside them! But equally I wouldn't say Jessica is classic in the way that Anne is.

Original poster
stopitcaroline · 24/04/2015 17:38

Ha, I should have been more specific. It was popular at the same time as Brittany and Tiffany. To me, it's much nicer. It's more like Jennifer (which I know was popular in the UK far before it was popular in the US) or Amanda.

OP posts:
PurpleSwift · 24/04/2015 17:37

I wouldn't consider it Classic, no

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 24/04/2015 17:35

I don't think it's like Brittany, but equally do not think of it as a classic.

Original poster
stopitcaroline · 24/04/2015 17:31

I guess "classic" is culturally specific. Well, obviously, but I assumed the definition would be similar in the US and UK, since we basically model ourselves after you, but... interesting!

OP posts:
PeppermintCrayon · 24/04/2015 17:30

I think it's a classic and not like Brittany etc at all.

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