Jessie

Jessie is a given name that originated as a diminutive of Jessica, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Yiskah, meaning “to behold” or “foresight.” The form Jessie is used for females in modern English-speaking contexts and can also be found as a masculine given name in some cases. Variants include Jesse, Jessy, and Jessi, among others, and Jessie has been adopted as a standalone name as well as a nickname for Jessica.

In contemporary use, Jessie is primarily a female name in many countries, though historical instances exist of its use for males. The name has appeared across various cultures and is common in English-speaking regions. It is often chosen for its friendly, approachable connotation and its association with the longer forms Jessica and Jesse.

Notable people named Jessie include Jessie J (Jessica Ellen Cornish), an English singer-songwriter known for pop and R&B influences; Jessie Buckley, an Irish-born English actress recognized for stage and screen work; Jessie Ware, an English singer; and Jessie James Decker, an American country singer and television personality. Other public figures also bear the name, spanning fields such as performing arts, sports, and literature.

Fictional characters named Jessie include Jessie the cowgirl from Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, a lively frontier character voiced by Joan Cusack; and Jessie, the titular character of the Disney Channel series Jessie, which centers on a young woman navigating life in New York City.

In computing, Jessie is the codename for Debian 8, one of the Debian operating system releases named after Toy Story characters. The name’s use in media and technology reflects its broad, approachable appeal and versatility.