Given name
Jessi
“gift”·“God exists; a gift from God; God sees all”·“The Lord sees all”
Jessi is a variant of Jesse. Interpretations include “gift” (Hebrew) and “God exists; a gift from God; God sees all” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. In English use, Jessi is a diminutive of Jessica. One Hebrew interpretation is “The Lord sees all.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Jessi is a variant of Jesse. Interpretations include “gift” (Hebrew) and “God exists; a gift from God; God sees all” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. In English use, Jessi is a diminutive of Jessica. One Hebrew interpretation is “The Lord sees all.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Jessi is a variant of Jesse. An origin associated with Jesse is Hebrew. In English use, Jessi is a diminutive of Jessica. A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1959. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Jessi is a diminutive of Jessica. The history of Jessica gives this family its wider story. Jessica is Shylock’s daughter in The Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare’s immediate inspiration is unknown, but the biblical spelling Jesca—corresponding to Iscah in Genesis 11:29—has been proposed as a starting point.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Jessi through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,874
- 1,321 boys · 6,553 girls
- Most popular year
- 1981
- 317 babies
- 2025
- 59
- #3,118 for girls · #10,144 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −21%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 7% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 52 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,118 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 273 in 1981. It also appeared in 7 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,230 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Jessi’s family of names
In English usage, Jessi is a diminutive of Jessica. Jessi has a related form in Jesse. Jessi has a related form in Jessica.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Jessi
- Jessi CombsAmerican racing driver (1980–2019)
- Jessi ColterAmerican country singerborn 1943
- Jessi KleinAmerican writerborn 1975
- Jessi AlexanderAmerican musicianborn 1972
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Jessi, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jesica
“The Lord sees all”
>99% girls
Jennica
“The Lord sees all” · “one who is fair; a beautiful girl”
>99% girls
Jessicka
“The Lord sees all”
>99% girls
Jessalin
“The Lord sees all”
>99% girls
Jessye
“The Lord sees all”
>99% girls
Tessica
“The Lord sees all”
>99% girls
Jessalyn
“The Lord sees all”
>99% girls
Jesiyn
“The Lord sees all”
—