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Baby names

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Original poster

How old is Jessica?

108 replies

Bedpost · 14/12/2021 14:45

Someone said that they think Jessica is an old lady name but to me it is quite timeless/maybe more popular with people aged 20-40. If you saw the name Jessica written down how old would you expect her to be. Would you be surprised if a baby was called Jessica now/do you know any children called it?

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Ionlydomassiveones · 14/12/2021 18:43

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CrispAndFrosty · 14/12/2021 18:41

@Holeandthentwo

A lot of people will have a Jessie way back on their family tree, but almost nobody will have a Jessica.

Of course they will. Jessica has been around for hundreds of years, since Shakespeare.

Yes, but nobody used it as a name. Many Shakespearean names have never been used as given names in this country, if anywhere at all. Do you know a Malvolio? A Mercutio? Shakespeare invented Jessica and it was a purely literary name for centuries after.
RancidOldHag · 14/12/2021 18:36

Very frequently used in the early 90s. And related to that, it reminds me of Jessica Chapman who should have been 21 now

FourFourthsDontCare · 14/12/2021 18:21

I know four: 47, 45, 16 and 15.

Viviennemary · 14/12/2021 18:18

I think it is quite old fashioned. Its ok but I don't love it.

Bortles · 14/12/2021 18:16

I know a 6 year old English, a 30 year old Swede, A 6 year old Pole and my 15 months old has Jessie as a middle.

DoodleBelle · 14/12/2021 18:11

I would expect a Jessica to be about 30 but I don’t think it would sound odd on a baby. Nice enough name.

TuftyMarmoset · 14/12/2021 18:09

I just looked up when the song came out (aka top gear theme) - 1973. So the baby girl it was named for would be almost 50 now!

Just10moreminutesplease · 14/12/2021 18:04

I’m 30 and went to school with a few. It’s a beautiful name though and I don’t think it would sound out of place on a baby today.

Nuffaluff · 14/12/2021 18:03

I think of it as a beautiful name, because the Jessica I taught is beautiful on the outside and the inside.

Nuffaluff · 14/12/2021 18:01

I taught a Jessica last year. She is eight.

RuthW · 14/12/2021 17:41

20-30.

My least fav name ever

Panacotta · 14/12/2021 17:38

45yrs
33yrs
4yrs

OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 14/12/2021 17:35

Around 16 years old, it was the Top uk baby name in 05, not sure of years around this.

Atla · 14/12/2021 17:32

5, mid-20's or 43 according to the ones I know!

Holeandthentwo · 14/12/2021 17:30

A lot of people will have a Jessie way back on their family tree, but almost nobody will have a Jessica.

Of course they will. Jessica has been around for hundreds of years, since Shakespeare.

scottishnames · 14/12/2021 17:30

Jessica is Shakespearean - so at leat 400 years old. Often said to have been invented by him, as a name for an helpful and sympathetic Jewish female character in the Merchant of Venice (a very, very problematic play).
www.behindthename.com/name/jessica

The Scottish name Jessie is often said to be a version of Janet, rather than Jean. Although of course both Janet and Jean are female versions of the same male name, John. So probably no big difference.

woodhill · 14/12/2021 17:26

Yes Jessie I knew was in her 80s. Was it a shortened form of Jessica or a feminine version of Jesse which was biblical?

I know a Jessica in her early 50s

Ihadbothdoses · 14/12/2021 17:24

I know a 32, 20 and a 4 year old jessica. Its a beautiful name

Keke94LND · 14/12/2021 17:22

Went to school with quite a few Jessica's, I'm 27, but I'd say it's a fairly timeless name.. I can imagine a baby called Jessica but I can also imagine an old lady called Jessica

AnFiaRuaNua · 14/12/2021 17:21

38

Very harsh name

Rebecca similar but less dated and harsh

CrispAndFrosty · 14/12/2021 17:21

@AwaAnBileYerHeid are they actually Jessicas though? As I've said, Jessie was popular in the past esp in Scotland, but Jessica was barely used.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 14/12/2021 17:20

And yes, most of their official names were Jessica. One or two were actually called Jean, but Jessica was definitely the more common.

Insertfunnyname · 14/12/2021 17:19

35

DingoDango · 14/12/2021 17:19

My best friend (34) and one in my sons class (age 8)

Also one in her 20s.