How old is someone named Vanessa?
The average Vanessa is 37 years old.
Half of all living Vanessas are between 25 and 46.
When was Vanessa popular?
Vanessa was at its most popular in the mid 1980s. Parents have been moving away from it for decades, and 813 babies were named Vanessa in 2025.
Popular names of 1985 · The most popular names of the 1980s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 | 0 |
| 1910s | 35 | 0 |
| 1920s | 51 | 0 |
| 1930s | 124 | under 100 |
| 1940s | 295 | 180 |
| 1950s | 19,218 | 15,000 |
| 1960s | 21,046 | 18,000 |
| 1970s | 28,188 | 27,000 |
| 1980s | 66,187 | 64,000 |
| 1990s | 58,134 | 57,000 |
| 2000s | 43,297 | 43,000 |
| 2010s | 19,624 | 19,000 |
| 2020s | 6,401 | 6,400 |
How many Vanessas are still alive?
About 250,000 Vanessas are alive in the US today. That's 95% of the roughly 260,000 babies named Vanessa since 1900.
Nearly every Vanessa ever born is still alive, because almost all of them are young.
What generation is the name Vanessa?
About two in five living Vanessas are Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996.
- Boomer 10%
- Gen X 16%
- Millennial 40%
- Gen Z 27%
- Gen Alpha 7%
Is Vanessa an old name?
Somewhat. Vanessa is older than 62 in 100 names on AgeByName, but younger than plenty of classics.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Vanessa will be 57 in 2056, so the name is getting older.
Is Vanessa a boy or girl name?
Almost entirely girls: 99.6% of living Vanessas are women.
Names the same age as Vanessa
NAME TWIN
Vanessa's name twin is Andrew. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Andrew's age curve is the closest match to Vanessa's: 93% alike.
Other spellings: Vanesa (28)
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Questions about the name Vanessa
How old is the average Vanessa?
The average Vanessa in the US is 37 years old. The median is 36, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Vanessa?
About 250,000 Vanessas are alive in the US today, out of roughly 260,000 babies given the name since 1900.
When was the name Vanessa most popular?
In 1985, when about 7,600 baby girls were named Vanessa.
Is Vanessa a Millennial name?
Partly. Millennials are the largest group, about 40% of living Vanessas, but the name spans several generations.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this