Sometimes, the best names are the simplest. Of course, just because they’re short and concise doesn’t mean the story behind them is as simple. In fact, some names have been around for well over a millennia, dating back to ancient times.
At times, names like these tend to have the knack for fitting both the male and female furry friends we adore so much. As it happens, Jess is one of these amazingly versatile names with a sound that has a wonderful ring to it and is still simple enough for pups to pick up when you’re playing games together at a busy park.
Is it a Boy or Girl?
One of the really neat things about the name Jess is that it can be used for both male and female dogs. Of course, this also means there might be a little confusion during introductions: “Oh you’re such a sweet girl,” (to your very masculine Jesse pal). So you might have to say your pup’s name with either a hefty or a light-hearted voice, just to emphasize which gender Jess your pal happens to be.
Jesse is the masculine form which can be sourced all the way back to the ancient Hebrew name, Yishay, and is most commonly considered to mean “gift.” This form has seen little change since its first introduction to the world of names and is still popular today.
As for the female version, Jess happens to be the shortened version for Jessica, which is today’s interpretation of the ancient Hebrew name, Ischa. Much appreciation goes to the famous playwright Shakespeare for making the name Jessica as popular as it is. In 1596, the play “The Merchant of Venice” featured the character Jessica as the daughter of Shylock, but the name didn’t reach peak popularity until the 20th century.
When considering different variations of the name, Jessie is the most common variation of Jesse, and is pronounced the same way. As for the females, there is quite a variety to choose from, including Jessa, Jessie, Jessye, Jessalyn, or even Lekika, if you happen to be Hawaiian.
Jess. It sounds familiar
There are both male and female famous mentions of the name Jess, so it isn’t hard to name any pup after someone who inspires you. Jess Willard was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight boxing title from 1915 to 1919, and was renowned for his strength and endurance in the ring. A famous female was actress Jess Walton who won two Emmy awards for her role in the long-running daytime television series, “The Young and the Restless.”
Jess is a wonderful name for both male and female dog companions of all sizes and breeds. If you find that it’s difficult not to say “yes” to your Jess when they stare up at you with those puppy-dog eyes, we’d like to hear about your best friend. And that means all the Jesse’s and Jessica’s out there.
