US Popularity Rank: 10685

Origin: Uncertain

Meaning: Butterfly

Vanassa is an alternate spelling of Vanessa. Originally coined by author Jonathan Swift for his lover, it was later adopted as the name for a genus of butterflies. Although they may look beautiful and fragile, they are strong from within. This idea isn’t new, in fact, it can be traced back to ancient civilizations when they depicted butterflies in their art, as reincarnations of dead warriors or as symbols of fire and warfare. So if you’d like your little one to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, Vanassa is a fine pick.