[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everybody!
I’m growing to really like [name_f]Jessa[/name_f] as a nickname for Jess1ca - but there’s just two barriers: the Duggars, and the lack of establishment as a name.
I’d say it could be thought of as the best out of the Jess1ca nicknames: more feminine and elegant than [name_u]Jess[/name_u], less juvenile and more mature than [name_u]Jessie[/name_u], and lacking the “ick” sound of Jess1ca. I’m just worried it isn’t established enough as a name. Does that make it feel unprofessional or tacky?
Additionally, the Duggar association makes me shy away from it. Would it be the first thing someone thought of? (ironically, it was from researching the name [name_f]Jessa[/name_f], so I suppose it only comes about when you search for it).
You don’t have to answer all of these, but…
What are your thoughts on [name_f]Jessa[/name_f]? (As a nickname, but a name that the wearer would go by most of the time)
What vibes/impressions/imagery do you get?
Is it too heavily associated with the Duggars?
Thank you all so much!
lilyofthevale
I don’t think it is too Duggar. I really like the name [name_f]Jessa[/name_f], and I think of it as superior to [name_f]Jessica[/name_f]. I consider it solid enough to stand on its own, especially since it is so close to [name_f]Tessa[/name_f]. I say go for it!
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It’s definitely not too Duggar! I thought her name was [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] anyhow 
so it’s not a very present association in general, so you are good!
Nope, just [name_f]Jessa[/name_f]!
[name_m]Just[/name_m] how [name_f]Jill[/name_f] Duggar is just [name_f]Jill[/name_f], not [name_f]Jillian[/name_f]
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I’ll bite. I think it’s a bit Duggar.
Sorry!
What about for someone not in the US?
I love Jessa!!! I actually have a character named [name_f]Jessa[/name_f] [name_f]Liz[/name_f]
Agreed! I love the name Jessa. It’s delightful, spunky, bright.
I know all the Duggars’ names start with J, but… not much beyond that. They certainly don’t feel like prominent figures anymore. I wouldn’t sweat it.
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Nope, I don’t think it’s too Duggar! I actually know a girl named [name_f]Jessa[/name_f] who is probably about 16 or so now. It’s a nice name 
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im australian and i immediately thought of the duggars
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I’ll also add that half the people I know probably have no idea who the Duggars are, let alone what their kids’ names are. And I’m in the US. If people watched the show a lot, they probably would associate it with them. I never had cable growing up, so i only ever heard of the shoe when I was dogsitting for someone with cable haha. Maybe it would be more of a concern to me if their show was in a channel like NBC, but I feel like the TLC channel only attracted a certain group of people within the cable/satellite TV people. Right now, they’re getting a lot of spotlight because of the documentary, but I’m sure that will pass soon. And again, if people hadn’t watched the show frequently when it aired, I didn’t think they would remember the 19 names that blend together because there are so many of them, and they all start with J. I think [name_f]Jinger[/name_f] was the most memorable to me because it was spelled funny to fit the theme, so that’s thebonly name that would strike me as a Duggar name of I heard it.
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I don’t. But that’s because I grew up with a Jesa (pronounced the same, but spelled that way, with just one s).
Maybe the alternative spelling would help it feel less Duggar-y to you?
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It feels perfectly established to me and while I know vaguely of the Duggars, I don’t know anything about them really. If I met a Jess1ca nn [name_f]Jessa[/name_f], or even just a [name_f]Jessa[/name_f], I wouldn’t really assume a connection.
[name_f]Jessa[/name_f] feels rugged and warm, a little bit tomboy, but easily leaning very feminine too, with just a hint of sharpness. I’m thinking kicking autumn leaves, splashing in puddles, curling up with a book, baking, toffee apples, mischievous smiles
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I think [name_f]Jessa[/name_f] is okay. It wouldn’t be my personal choice but it’s a fine name.
I don’t think the current generation of kids growing up will know much about the Duggars (especially outside of the US). I remember their show being big at one point about ten years ago but, personally, I never see or hear anything about them anymore.
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Thank you - I think I prefer [name_f]Jessa[/name_f] though, mostly because my brain want say Jesa like Jay-suh. Same with [name_f]Jena[/name_f] - I know a [name_f]Jena[/name_f] who says it like [name_f]Jenna[/name_f], but my brain always goes “Jay-nuh” 
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I’m not from the US and I only know the Duggars vaguely (I watched a 2 hour-ish long video essay about everything that happened with them, basically). I never would’ve thought of them, and to be honest [name_f]Jessa[/name_f] is such a “normal” every-day name that it’d baffle me if anyone strongly associated it with the Duggars, especially in 2023 and onward as the show starts to lose its cultural relevance!
Begrudgingly, I’ll admit that Jessa is a lovely, sporty name that is classy and unexpected. I don’t think a lot of people follow the Duggars nowadays — those that do will probably notice the connection, but I wouldn’t let that deter me from choosing this name.
Now, Josh on the other hand… I don’t think I can ever use. Josh Duggar disgusts me. Jessa Duggar at least has some redeeming qualities, despite her continued allegiance to the cult she grew up in.