Jessica (English)
Where does "Jessica" come from?
The name Jessica was popularized by William Shakespeare in his play 'The Merchant of Venice,' though its roots trace back much further to the Hebrew name Iscah, found in the book of Genesis. Derived from a root meaning 'to behold' or 'to look for,' the name was later adapted into its current form. While some have suggested it is an elaborate version of 'Jessie,' its true origins link back to this ancient biblical moniker.
Full etymology tree
- Jessica (English), 'A female given name from Hebrew.'
- inherited Jescha (Middle English)
- inherited יִסְכָּה (Iscah) (Hebrew), 'Iscah, sister of Lot'
- inherited Jescha (Middle English)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris