Vanessa Name Meaning, Origin & Gender

Vanessa Name at a Glance

Name	Vanessa
Meaning	Butterfly. Also, from Phanessa, the mystic goddess of an ancient Greek brotherhood.
Origin	Greek
Gender	Girl

What Does the Name Vanessa Mean?

According to the information recorded in our baby name database, Vanessa means “Butterfly. Also, from Phanessa, the mystic goddess of an ancient Greek brotherhood”. Name meanings can vary between languages, regions and naming traditions, so families may also wish to confirm a meaning within the cultural or linguistic context that matters to them.

Vanessa Name Origin

Our database records Vanessa under Greek origin. Browse more Greek baby names to compare other names in the same origin collection.

Is Vanessa a Boy or Girl Name?

In our database, Vanessa is listed as a girl name. Usage can differ across countries, languages and families.

Choosing the Name Vanessa

When considering Vanessa for a baby, you may want to compare its recorded meaning and origin with family traditions, pronunciation, spelling, initials, middle names and how the full name sounds with the family name.