US Popularity Rank: 11878

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Butterfly

Vennesa is a feminine Greek name that is thought to mean “butterfly” and is a variant of the more famous Vanessa. It is commonly believed to have originated in Greece and refers to the mystic goddess Phanessa, who was deeply fascinated with butterflies. Another well-known tale is the story of Irish writer Jonathan Swift, who created the name for the woman he was in a relationship with. Swift took the “van” from her Vanhomrigh surname and added -essa from the pet name for Esther. Since then, Vanessa has spawned Vennesa—a creative change Jonathan Swift would nod approvingly at. As for your little one, baby Vennesa can be proud of their unique name while channeling their inner butterfly as they spread their wings and fly.