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Jessie

Girl name · 413 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Jessie: 413 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 24 births in 2021.

Jessie is most often a Scottish and English diminutive of Jessica, ultimately from the Hebrew Yiskah meaning “foresight” or “to behold,” though it also serves as a pet form of Jean and Janet, themselves feminine versions of John, meaning “God is gracious.” The name has been carried by several notable figures, including award-winning singer-songwriter Jessie J, and legendary American illustrator Jessie Willcox Smith. While there are no major place names linked directly, the name shares its root with the biblical Jescha. A charmingly versatile name, Jessie has remained popular across genders—in Scotland it’s traditionally female, yet it also appears as a masculine nickname, notably for the cowboy hero in the Toy Story films, a cultural touchstone that keeps the name fresh for modern parents.