Nessa: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Nessa is an Irish girl's name from legend: the mother of Conor Mac Nessa, king of Ulster. Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Neasa
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 239 for girls (2025)
How do you pronounce Nessa?
Nessa is pronounced NESS-a. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Neasa.
What does Nessa mean?
Nessa was the mother of Conchobhar (Conor) Mac Nessa, king of Ulster. A powerful and beautiful woman, ambitious for her son, she tricked her second husband, Fergus, into giving up his kingdom to his stepson, Conchobhar (Conor), for a year, but Conchobhar (Conor) ruled so wisely and so well that the people chose him to be their permanent king.
How popular is Nessa in Ireland?
In 2025, 18 baby girls in Ireland were named Nessa, which made it No. 239 that year. That's down from No. 192 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1975, when 56 baby girls were named Nessa, No. 127 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 5 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | No. 239 |
| 2024 | 13 | No. 307 |
| 2023 | 18 | No. 226 |
| 2022 | 16 | No. 266 |
| 2021 | 21 | No. 221 |
| 2020 | 15 | No. 275 |
| 2019 | 22 | No. 221 |
| 2018 | 25 | No. 200 |
| 2017 | 24 | No. 211 |
| 2016 | 17 | No. 273 |
| 2015 | 29 | No. 192 |
| 2014 | 28 | No. 188 |
| 2013 | 21 | No. 246 |
| 2012 | 20 | No. 250 |
| 2011 | 20 | No. 258 |
| 2010 | 18 | No. 293 |
| 2009 | 20 | No. 254 |
| 2008 | 24 | No. 230 |
| 2007 | 13 | No. 326 |
| 2006 | 17 | No. 247 |
| 2005 | 14 | No. 263 |
| 2004 | 7 | No. 414 |
| 2003 | 8 | No. 362 |
| 2002 | 14 | No. 254 |
| 2001 | 12 | No. 266 |
| 2000 | 10 | No. 284 |
| 1999 | 7 | No. 322 |
| 1998 | 4 | No. 425 |
| 1997 | 10 | No. 304 |
| 1996 | 6 | No. 393 |
| 1995 | 11 | No. 283 |
| 1994 | 7 | No. 350 |
| 1993 | 5 | No. 415 |
| 1992 | 8 | No. 338 |
| 1991 | 5 | No. 423 |
| 1990 | 12 | No. 268 |
| 1989 | 3 | No. 503 |
| 1988 | 6 | No. 381 |
| 1987 | 5 | No. 417 |
| 1986 | 16 | No. 240 |
| 1985 | 14 | No. 254 |
| 1984 | 7 | No. 365 |
| 1983 | 19 | No. 232 |
| 1982 | 12 | No. 300 |
| 1981 | 14 | No. 272 |
| 1980 | 17 | No. 258 |
| 1979 | 14 | No. 286 |
| 1978 | 16 | No. 253 |
| 1977 | 10 | No. 311 |
| 1976 | 29 | No. 191 |
| 1975 | 56 | No. 127 |
| 1974 | 29 | No. 192 |
| 1973 | 19 | No. 232 |
| 1972 | 6 | No. 352 |
| 1971 | 9 | No. 289 |
| 1970 | 12 | No. 243 |
| 1969 | 6 | No. 322 |
| 1968 | 9 | No. 258 |
| 1967 | 6 | No. 288 |
| 1966 | 5 | No. 310 |
| 1965 | 6 | No. 282 |
| 1964 | 5 | No. 300 |
Nessa in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Nessa, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- EEadhadh, aspen
- SSail, willow
- SSail, willow
- AAilm, pine
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Nessa
Questions about Nessa
- How do you pronounce Nessa?
- Nessa is pronounced NESS-a. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Nessa a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Nessa is a girl's name.
- How popular is Nessa in Ireland?
- In 2025, Nessa was No. 239 for girls in Ireland, with 18 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1975, at No. 127.