Jessica
Jessica is essentially invented by Shakespeare for "The Merchant of Venice" (c.1596) — the daughter of Shylock who elopes with Lorenzo. Shakespeare appears to have derived it from the Hebrew "Iscah" (mentioned in Genesis 11:29), which means "God beholds" or "God looks forth." The name was rare before Shakespeare and did not become common until the 20th century. Jessica was the #1 girl name in the US from 1985 to 1990, displacing Jennifer. It then traded the top spot with Ashley for several years. The peak was so concentrated that Jessica now reads as definitively late-80s/early-90s. Jessica Lange (born 1949), the actress known for "Tootsie" (1982) and "American Horror Story," gave the name a serious dramatic dimension. I find Jessica has a soft, slightly 1980s quality — the "J" opening is firm, the "ss" gives it softness, and the "ca" ending gives it a slightly Latin feel. The name has been outside the US top 200 since 2016. Jessica is a female name of Hebrew (literary coinage) origin that means "God beholds (from Iscah)". 80s, soft, and friendly. The name sounds approachable. Jessicas tend to be outgoing. US #1 from 1985-1990. Now top 200. Well-known people named Jessica include Jessica (Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice), Jessica Lange (actress), Jessica Chastain (actress), Jessica (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Jessica include Jessika (variant), Jessie (related), Jess (short form), Yessica (Spanish).