Name meaning & stats
Jess
Jess means “gift (debated)” (Hebrew origin). 15,013 US babies since 1940, peak 1978. Notable Jesss are 1.8× over-represented as singers.
What it means
“gift (debated)”
HebrewPet form of Jesse
In US birth records
Peak year: 1978
15,013 US babies were named Jess between 1940 and 2025.
Where Jesss end up
Not enough notable Jesss yet, so this uses the spelling family: Jesse, Jess, Jesus.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 1.3× | High · 43 people |
| Musician | 1.5× | High · 34 people |
| Singer | 1.8× | High · 33 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.0× | High · 33 people |
Among notable men who are singers, the Jesse family show up 1.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
Spelling family
1 in 41 Jesses spell it Jess
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1978)