Vanessa is a female given name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek phrase phantasia, which means "imagination" or "fancy". The name Vanessa was first used in the 17th century by the English poet Jonathan Swift in his poem "Cadenus and Vanessa". Swift used the name as a pseudonym for Esther Vanhomrigh, a young woman with whom he was in love. The name Vanessa quickly became popular in England and was later adopted in other countries. Today, Vanessa is a popular name in many parts of the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.