Jess or Tess?

[ljandrl]

[name]Hi[/name] Berries

So both [name]Tessa[/name] and [name]Jessamine[/name] are on my short list but obviously one has to go as [name]Jess[/name] and [name]Tess[/name] are way too cutesy! I love both. I prefer [name]Tess[/name] to [name]Jess[/name] as a short form but probably prefer the name [name]Jessamine[/name] to [name]Tessa[/name]. My partner likes both but prefers [name]Tessa[/name].

So pros and cons? Which name do you prefer and why? Im not concerned with which matches my other names better just which you like more on its own!

Please debate!

[daisy451]

It’s complicated for me: I like [name]Tess[/name] much more than [name]Jess[/name] ([name]Jess[/name] seems very dated to the 80’s to me, and I know [name]Jessica[/name] is fairly popular now in the UK and Australia), but I love [name]Jessamine[/name] as a full name but I don’t really like [name]Tessa[/name]. I like [name]Teresa[/name] a lot more than [name]Tessa[/name], but I still think I like [name]Jessamine[/name] more. So I guess it comes down to how much you’re going to call her by her nickname and how much she’ll be known by her full name- if it’s mostly nickname, I like [name]Tessa[/name]; mostly full name, I like [name]Jessamine[/name].

[lemon]

[name]Hi[/name], [name]Laura[/name]:

I like [name]Tess[/name]. In fact, I might love [name]Tess[/name]. [name]Just[/name] [name]Tess[/name]. To me, there is a subtle classic elegance to [name]Tess[/name]. I don’t get the sugary sweet factor, and it doesn’t feel like a nickname to me. It’s strong and powerful, just in a tiny package. I could see the most feminine of girls wearing the name just as well as a tomboy. That being said, I’m not overwhelmingly fond of [name]Tessa[/name]. To me, it feels a little bit tired nowadays, like something that might - just might - be on the verge of being dated. [name]Tessa[/name] always conjures up this image of a snobby, bossy cheerleader-type for me, someone who gets what she wants and doesn’t take no for an answer, in a negative way. I can’t say why I get this feeling, because I’ve never met a [name]Tessa[/name] like that myself, but I just do. You know how you get a vibe from certain names? That’s the story with me and [name]Tessa[/name]. Ironically, though, I find [name]Tessa[/name] a bit sweeter than [name]Tess[/name]!

I don’t much like [name]Jess[/name]. But, I love [name]Jessamine[/name]! [name]Jessamine[/name] is girlish and flirty, funky and strong. She’s got that princess-like flair to her in the same way [name]Mirabella[/name] might, but it isn’t an in-your-face type of flashiness. [name]Jessamine[/name] is feminine, yet reserved. [name]Jess[/name] reminds me of [name]Jessica[/name]. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with [name]Jessica[/name] other than the fact that it is 80s central! I don’t mind [name]Jess[/name] that much, and I think it’s a natural and easy-breezy short form. I mean, gossip mags oftentimes refer to famous [name]Jessica[/name]'s ([name]Jessica[/name] [name]Alba[/name], [name]Jessica[/name] Biel, [name]Jessica[/name] [name]Simpson[/name]) as [name]Jess[/name] - those are attractive, young, successful (some more so than others!) women, right? Anyway, back to [name]Jessamine[/name] - she’s lovely. Striking. Eccentric even! But [name]Jess[/name]? [name]Jess[/name] brings [name]Jessamine[/name] back to earth in a way. It’s a means of making flirty [name]Jessamine[/name] a bit more accessible for a tomboy or someone who doesn’t want to get her princess on. [name]Jessamine[/name] also has [name]Jessa[/name], which I find a bit sweeter and more delicate - I like it more than [name]Jess[/name]. You could even go all-out unisex with [name]Jessie[/name] or [name]Jesse[/name], right? And, if you’re looking for something a bit sweeter, maybe a bit more frilly, you could try [name]Ami[/name] or the more natural [name]Mini[/name] ([name]Minnie[/name]). But, [name]Jessa[/name]'s my favorite. [name]Little[/name] [name]Jessa[/name]. Big [name]Jessa[/name]. It just makes sense all around. [name]Jay[/name] would even work.

So, [name]Laura[/name], I’d go with [name]Jessamine[/name]. Why? It’s more versatile. With [name]Tessa[/name], you’re limited in your nicknames and the image you want to portray, I feel - [name]Tess[/name], [name]Essa[/name], that’s it. [name]Jessamine[/name] is a striking name that fits a wide variety of characters - sassy [name]Jessa[/name], sporty [name]Jessie[/name], spunky [name]Jess[/name], silly [name]Minnie[/name], sweetie [name]Ami[/name]. Done.

L

[ljandrl]

Bah I just can’t decide! Might have to keep them both on the list for now.

I agree with a lot of what you said. [name]Jess[/name] isn’t the worst nn but I hate that when people hear it they’ll automatically assume it’s short for [name]Jessica[/name]. I would probably use [name]Jessa[/name] as the official nn but I know even that would naturally get shortened to [name]Jess[/name] in my family. I only have a two syllable name and yet I’m always ‘Lau’ any my mum [name]Karen[/name] is always ‘Ka’ - we’re just lazy like that! Lol. I love [name]Tess[/name] and [name]Tessa[/name] and actually have only ever met one [name]Tessa[/name] in my life (an old lecturer) so it doesn’t feel dated to me. Does any one from the UK have an opinion on whether [name]Tessa[/name] is dated here or not?

I had a second cousin called [name]Theresa[/name] who was born 10 days before me and died tragically aged two so I think it’d be too hard for some family members to have another [name]Theresa[/name] around and I still see her mum often, but [name]Tessa[/name] might be a nice subtle way of honouring her. I didn’t pick the name for that reason but it would be a nice bonus.

So I guess all that means I should probably use [name]Tessa[/name] but on the flip side, it doesnt have the same wow factor for me as [name]Jessamine[/name]. But then what I love about [name]Tessa[/name] is it’s laidback, carefree charm. I’d definitely be open to using [name]Tess[/name] on it’s own but then by using [name]Tessa[/name] nn [name]Tess[/name] I get the best of both worlds. So what does everyone else think, [name]Tess[/name] or [name]Tessa[/name]?

[ginnibeam]

[name]Tess[/name] > [name]Jess[/name], for sure. I’m also not a big fan of [name]Jessamine[/name] (it’s like a fluffed-up [name]Jasmine[/name] to me). [name]Tess[/name] and [name]Tessa[/name] both seem very strong but also cute.

[ljandrl]

Also what does everyone think of [name]Thessaly[/name]? I believe it’s pronounced [name]Tess[/name]-uh-lee but I could be wrong so feel free to correct me!

[geea]

[name]Tessa[/name]-that was our name we had picked out if we had a girl. Good luck`

[lilybug1]

I definitely say [name]Tess[/name]. I like [name]Tessa[/name] and [name]Tess[/name]. I think it’s cute and spunky, but can grow on girl.

[name]Jess[/name] reminds me 100% of [name]Jessica[/name]. Honestly, [name]Jessamine[/name] sounds a bit made up to me. As for other nn, i think [name]Jessie[/name] also screams [name]Jessica[/name], as for [name]Jessa[/name] that is different sounds like [name]Jenna[/name] which takes me back to another totally 80’s name [name]Jennifer[/name] or [name]Jenna[/name] [name]Jameson[/name]. I feel around [name]Jessamine[/name] you have some washed-up associations and I don’t get that at all with [name]Tessa[/name] or [name]Tess[/name], so I think it’s an easy answer for me.

[ljandrl]

Thanks guys, I totally hear what you’re all saying and those are the same reasons that I think I’m leaning towards [name]Tess[/name]/[name]Tessa[/name]. Can’t decide which I prefer out of [name]Tess[/name] and [name]Tessa[/name] though. What do you all think? [name]Do[/name] they have different feels to you? [name]Do[/name] you have a fav?

[acmom]

[name]Tess[/name] and [name]Tessa[/name] have long been favorites of mine. I was strongly in the [name]Tessa[/name] camp for a long time, but now prefer [name]Tess[/name]. I think it ages better and has a more classic appeal to it, while maintaining all the spunk of bohemian [name]Tessa[/name]. Picturing the name on a child as well as an adult professional woman, streamlined [name]Tess[/name] seems to much more easily suit both of those images. So I personally would go with [name]Tess[/name], nn [name]Tessa[/name] (nn’s are usually shorter, I know, but I still think this works!).

Good luck!

[lilybug1]

@ljandrl

Thanks guys, I totally hear what you’re all saying and those are the same reasons that I think I’m leaning towards Tess/Tessa. Can’t decide which I prefer out of Tess and Tessa though. What do you all think? Do they have different feels to you? Do you have a fav?

i would probably name her [name]Tessa[/name] as a proper name, especially if you have a family association/honor with [name]Teresa[/name]. Personally, I think once the baby is born, you’ll see if you call her [name]Tess[/name] or [name]Tessa[/name] more. my guess is you will probably call her both.

[lemon]

@acmom

Tess and Tessa have long been favorites of mine. I was strongly in the Tessa camp for a long time, but now prefer Tess. I think it ages better and has a more classic appeal to it, while maintaining all the spunk of bohemian Tessa. Picturing the name on a child as well as an adult professional woman, streamlined Tess seems to much more easily suit both of those images. So I personally would go with Tess, nn Tessa (nn’s are usually shorter, I know, but I still think this works!).

Good luck!

That’s brilliant. And, yes, that’s how I see [name]Tess[/name]. Completely classic, but packaged in a modern, fun-size way. Why can’t you call [name]Tess[/name] “[name]Tessa[/name]” or “[name]Tessie[/name],” [name]Laura[/name]? You can!

PS [name]Ivy[/name] and [name]Tess[/name] are very cute together.

[ljandrl]

Yes I think [name]Tessa[/name] nn [name]Tess[/name] or [name]Tess[/name] nn [name]Tessa[/name]/[name]Tessie[/name] would work. However I’m sorry to dissapoint but I think I’m leaning towards [name]Tessa[/name]. I like [name]Tess[/name] because it gives me a different ending to [name]Claudia[/name], but [name]Tessa[/name] just feels more “me”.

I’ve done some research and in the US, [name]Tessa[/name] is ranked at no.208 and [name]Tess[/name] at no.829. However in the UK, [name]Tessa[/name] is ranked at no.701 and [name]Tess[/name] at no.438. So maybe that’s part of the reason you prefer [name]Tess[/name] and I prefer [name]Tessa[/name]? [name]Tess[/name] feels more “tired” to me (although I don’t really see it as tired at all) and [name]Tessa[/name] feels more “tired” to you. I think it’s probably more of a difference for you because [name]Tessa[/name] is ranked so much higher than [name]Tess[/name] in the US, whereas both names are nearer together on the UK charts and I view them more equally, but [name]Tessa[/name] just has the edge for me I think. Wow I sound decisive!

[isaberry]

[name]Tessa[/name] nn [name]Tess[/name] is just cuter in my opinion. I don’t really have anything to back it up, I just like it better!

[withinreason]

Ok, this might just be way out there - but I will explain my reasoning!

What if you give her the full name [name]Jessamine[/name] and call her [name]Tess[/name]? (I definitely prefer [name]Tess[/name] to [name]Tessa[/name]).

My reasoning; names (or nn rather) tend to morph and switching “T” and “J” wouldn’t be too much of a stretch, think of:

[name]William[/name] = [name]Will[/name] which changes to “[name]Bill[/name]”

[name]Mary[/name] = [name]Molly[/name] which changes to “[name]Polly[/name]”

[karenp]

That’s so funny how [name]Tess[/name]/[name]Tessa[/name] are switched in US and UK!
My dd is [name]Tess[/name] nn [name]Tessi[/name] and occassionally [name]Tessa[/name], but she doesn’t like [name]Tessa[/name] that much. I don’t blame her, it just doesn’t fit her. I too see [name]Tessa[/name] as a bit spoiled pretentious. Probably because my mom always told the story of a [name]Tessa[/name] she baby sat that was like that. My [name]Tess[/name] fits previous descriptions. She’s down to earth, yet a very independent, a “Here I am” personality that puts others at ease. So I am obviously biased to [name]Tess[/name] over [name]Tessa[/name].
As far as [name]Jessamine[/name] nn [name]Jess[/name] goes…yes, it does seem like an upscale [name]Jessica[/name]. My best friend is [name]Jessica[/name] whom I always call [name]Jess[/name], which I know influenced my name choice:) [name]Jessamine[/name] seems more suited as a mn choice, but that’s my style, short fn with long mn.
But if your settled on [name]Tessa[/name] nn [name]Tess[/name], that’s great too. This world needs more of them I’m sure it does have to do with ratings in US and UK haha