This was one of the names my husband has always loved. ([name]Vanessa[/name] and [name]Colette[/name], though he is off of [name]Colette[/name] just as I started to come around to it- go figure). We’re pretty obviously of Irish heritage and I always thought [name]Vanessa[/name] sounded too exotic for our Mc last name. It’s come to my attention that although [name]Vanessa[/name] is not Irish in origin, it was invented by an Irish writer! Maybe something that helps it make more sense for us? It doesn’t necessarily go well with siblings [name]Mason[/name] and [name]Brenna[/name], but for the sake of adding names to the list I’m trying to move past that. What do you think of [name]Vanessa[/name]? An Irish name was never a must but I always thought I wouldn’t stray too far away from the “feel”. [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] is the combo that got me rethinking 
I think [name]Vanessa[/name] is really nice. Its not my favourite V name…but I do think it sounds pretty. The name has consistently been in the top 200 for years and years. The highest point it ever got was #50, and that was back like in the 80s. Some people might think its dated, but because it never got SUPER popular and its been around for years, I think its do-able.
That all said, Im not sure it goes with [name]Brenna[/name]. I think its the enna/essa ending. It makes it seem a bit sing-songey. A little matchy matchy.
Yeah something about [name]Mason[/name] [name]Brenna[/name] [name]Vanessa[/name] is sing-songy! like you mixed together mason and brenna and out popped vanessa 
not necessarily a bad thing tho!
[name]Vanessa[/name] isn’t really one of my favorite names, but the combo [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] is very nice. The enna/essa endings of [name]Brenna[/name] and [name]Vanessa[/name] don’t bother me at all. I’m not sure [name]Vanessa[/name] is the same style as [name]Mason[/name] and [name]Brenna[/name], though.
I like [name]Vanessa[/name], but seeing how that’s my name, I’m partial. I always liked that my name isn’t super common (never had any in my class), but not unusual either. [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] is pretty!
[name]Vanessa[/name] was our front runner if this baby was a girl. It’s a boy, so we’re saving [name]Vanessa[/name] for “next time.” I did a lot of research on the name, and feel like I know more about [name]Vanessa[/name] than my own name. I like it because it’s a beautiful feminisma name that is underused yet familiar and meets my requirment of having no pronounciation issues. I would absolutely NOT categorize the name as dated. Although, it did find a lot of favor in the 80s and 90s, it isn’t “stuck there.” It has been in the top 200 since the early 1950s and in the top 100 for over 30 years (1977-2010). Unlike true dated names, [name]Vanessa[/name] was never in the top 10 or 20 and in fact never made it past the top 50. Also, even though [name]Vanessa[/name] is declining right now, it’s not doing so rapidly. Dated names will normally rise to fame as quickly as they fall. That’s not the case with [name]Vanessa[/name].
As far as the style goes, I do see [name]Vanessa[/name] as exotic, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t flow with an Irish last name. Moreover, [name]Nessa[/name] is an actual Irish name, which you can use a nickname for [name]Vanessa[/name]. [name]Mason[/name], [name]Brenna[/name] and [name]Vanessa[/name] ([name]Nessa[/name]) sound great to me. [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] sounds gorgeous. Good luck
Well it’s my younger daughter’s name, so of course I think it’s great. I agree with everything mellowyellow said about the name. I also want to add that I think [name]Vanessa[/name] is a very versatile name that can be worn by virtually anyone of any background and goes great with most surnames. I love the flow of [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] McLastname.
[name]Lovely[/name]. [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] is darling!
I think [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] is darling. I also think it goes well with the siblings. I don’t find it dated at all. I could just as easily picture a baby [name]Vanessa[/name] as an adult [name]Vanessa[/name].
Thanks for all the feedback! I agree that it’s a beautiful and in my opinion, timeless, name. [name]Even[/name] if most would consider it dated, that doesn’t phase me at all. I am even really liking the way it sounds with my last name now, but I don’t know if I can get past the mis-matchiness of the siblings. The style aspect I could get over, I suppose. But as some of you pointed out, [name]Brenna[/name] and [name]Vanessa[/name] might sound too close! Names get shortened to one syllable most of the time if our busy household, and are [name]Bren[/name] and Ness too confusing? I suppose I could always go the “[name]Van[/name]” route but Ness/[name]Nessa[/name] is so much cuter! Ahh, I don’t know. [name]One[/name] to keep in mind for now. Still got a few months to go
[name]Ive[/name] always had a soft spot for [name]Vanessa[/name] and dont find it dated at all. I think its a beautiful name, and very wearable. I love the nickname possibilites of [name]Nessa[/name] and [name]Nessi[/name].
I think [name]Mason[/name], [name]Brenna[/name] and [name]Vanessa[/name] actually sound great together. [name]Vanessa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] is stunning, [name]Maeve[/name] is actually on my list too.
I think it’s a great name. There have been other threads on this name, and opinions ranged from dated to timeless, but the majority seemed to think it an underused beauty, which i agree with. Plus I love the nickname [name]Nessa[/name]/Ness…it reminds me of [name]Tessa[/name]/[name]Tess[/name], and I like it a millions times more than [name]Nelly[/name]/[name]Nell[/name].
I think it’s pretty. I think it fits just fine with [name]Mason[/name] and [name]Brenna[/name] – honestly, I only think the whole sibset thing is a concern when you go from something like [name]Anne[/name], [name]Jane[/name], and [name]John[/name] to [name]Ekaterina[/name] for number four. [name]Mason[/name], [name]Brenna[/name] and [name]Vanessa[/name] are fine together. And I’m fairly sure I went to school with an Irish [name]Vanessa[/name], so there you go. Not unprecedented. Go for it!!
[name]Vanessa[/name] just seems dated to me. I love the names of your children though, I’d want their sibling to have something just as fresh and cool as they do!
I wanted to chime in because my daughter’s name is [name]Vanessa[/name], and I am of Irish decent. That’s partly why we chose it-connection to an Irish poet and the [name]Nessa[/name] nickname possibility. I think [name]Vanessa[/name] is pretty and chic without being trendy. I also think it pairs well with your other siblings. I think being “cool and fresh” means not caring about what everyone else thinks is “cool and fresh.”
I am not sure why I dislike it so much. I like [name]Veronica[/name] (which has a similar historical popularity curve) very much, and I adore [name]Vivien[/name] and [name]Viola[/name] - but [name]Vanessa[/name] falls flat for me. I do know a [name]Vanessa[/name] who is lovely but I’ve never liked the name.
I do love [name]Nora[/name], which has a rather Irish feel to me, but not [name]Nessa[/name].
There’s nothing wrong with [name]Vanessa[/name]. It does feel slightly dated to me - I would expect a woman in her 20s - but it wouldn’t seem weird on a baby. It’s a pretty name.