Vannessa

MEANING

ORIGIN

Greek

ETYMOLOGY

Derived from the Greek word 'Phanessa', a deity associated with the moon, and later used as a term for butterfly.

CULTURAL NOTES

The butterfly is often seen as a symbol of transformation and beauty.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The name Vanessa was first coined by writer Jonathan Swift for a character in his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa' in the early 18th century.