Jessica

Jessica is an English name first appearing in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice (1596), where it is borne by the daughter of Shylock. Shakespeare likely coined it from Iscah, a Hebrew name appearing in the Book of Genesis meaning something along the lines of foresight or one who looks out, transmitted through its Latin and Greek form Esca. The name spread widely across Western Europe and became especially popular in English-speaking countries during the late twentieth century. Related forms include Jessie, Jess, and the Portuguese and Spanish variant Jéssica.