Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Ionlydomassiveones · 14/12/2021 18:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

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.