Asking for a friend

[MyNameHasBeenTaken]

Little girl due next month, I think
They have chosen vanessa

My friend (soon to be granny) thinks it's a bit old fashioned, but not in a good way
Obviously, she has agreed with her daughter that it's a nice name. Can have nicknames if she wants. Is a real name etc.
She asks, is it due a revival?
Toddler nessie could be cute?

Vanessa is a lovely name. Pretty, slightly quirky, retro and due a comeback.

Thanks blue
I agree.

I think it's fine.

I know a four year old Vanessa. I think it's a decent enough name. Not a name I'd choose but nice enough

Think its lovely and Nessa a fine nickname.

As a Gavin and Stacey fan I can’t say I’m a fan of a baby Nessa but it’s not the worst name I’ve heard.

What @Bluesername said. I think it's a gorgeous name. I've only ever known two Vanessas, one in her 50s and the other in her late 20s. I like its slightly quirky history too, it was invented by Jonathan Swift by twisting around the name of a friend, Esther Van Something-I-Can't-Remember.

Vanessa is very nice. It's not an overly popular or trendy name but a well known one with an interesting history - as pp mentioned, it was likely invented by Swift, so has a classy feel to me (helped by namesakes like Vanessa Bell or Redgrave).

It also doesn't feel old-fashioned or dated imo, since I dont think it was ever used in huge numbers in the UK, even in the past (unlike popular retro/vintage names like Evelyn, Florence, Ivy etc).

If she wants a nn I would use Nessa or maybe Essy though, rather than Nessie (too Loch Ness monster - although may be suitable for a naughty toddler!)

I agree with others that it's not a name that's really tied to a specific decade or time period as it's not been super popular, so I wouldn't say it feels dated. I like it.

It's interesting how different generations view names. I'm considering a vintage name and I'm sure my parents will think it's really dated even though it's becoming trendy.

I like it. It always makes me think of vanilla, which is a nice association.

I don't think Vanessa is dated, because it's never been used in huge numbers. I know one Vanessa in her mid-30s and another in her 50s.

If your friend likes the name, she should use it.

And I associate Vanessa with Vanilla and Nessa with Loch Ness rather than Gavin and Stacey!

Unless the middle name is Shanessa, I’d say it’s fine. Not a name I’d choose but there’s nothing wrong with it and I don’t think it’s old fashioned. I went to school with a Vanessa and I’m 26.

I think it's a perfectly nice name too. I was at school with one - she is 51 - but it mainly reminds me of the bossy one with the feather in her hat, in Five Dolls in a House.

I agree it's one of those uncommon but inoffensive names that doesn't have an obvious time period and doesn't date. It's a lovely choice.

Vanessa is a good choice. And Nessie is very cute as a nickname. I don't think it's as dated as your friend seems to think. A rather stylish name. It's more cool retro than dated, if anything. It makes me think of Vanessa Bell, the painter.

Wow.
A lot of love for vanessa.
I think snuggybuggy sums it up nicely for me.
I only knew one vanessa as a kid.
She would be nearly 50 now?
I never knew the history.

I like Vanessa. It's the perfect name in that it's easy to spell, well recognised, not datable to a specific era, has great nickname potential, all without being too popular! The holy grail 🙂

I'm 41 and met a Vanessa when we were both 10 and I moved schools. I remember thinking it was a beautifully exotic name. There was also a Pamela in the same class that I thought the same about. Now I would consider Vanessa far nicer than Pamela.

Yes, I love it, I've suggested it before. I bracket it in with Melissa, but Vanessa is a bit more glam. Perfect for revival now - the new cool names in the next few years are going to be Barbara and the like - I think your friend's DD has made a rather lovely choice that's going to fit in with her generation but be unusual.

Oh and the one I knew was Vass or Vassie for short - nice.

I love Vanessa. It makes me think of the actress Vanessa Redgrave, who I find very elegant.

A grown up name that is timeless without being frilly.