# Jessica

/ˈdʒɛsɪkə/ (US) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jessica
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a common female name in English-speaking countries. It is used to identify a specific person.

For teachers: a female given name of Hebrew origin, popularized by William Shakespeare in 'The Merchant of Venice'.

## Examples

- Jessica is my best friend from school.
- The manager asked Jessica to lead the presentation because she has the most experience with the client.
- While the name Jessica was relatively rare for centuries, it saw a massive surge in popularity during the late twentieth century, becoming one of the most common names for girls in the West.

## Usage notes

- As a proper noun, it is always capitalized and typically used without an article unless referring to a specific person among others of the same name.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.