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Vanessa

An invented literary name created by author Jonathan Swift, derived from elements of a historical person's name.

Meaning and origin

Vanessa was invented by author Jonathan Swift for his 1726 poem Cadenus and Vanessa.

How to pronounce Vanessa

English (US)vuh-NEH-suh /vəˈnɛsə/

About this entry

Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.

The sources behind this entry are listed in the app.