Original photo by Patrick Tomasso/ Unsplash
Along with such phrases as “too much of a good thing” and “the clothes make the man,” we can also thank Shakespeare for the name Jessica. The Bard first used it in his play The Merchant of Venice (likely written around 1596), as the name of the moneylender Shylock’s defiant daughter. Some scholars think Shakespeare may have been inspired by the Hebrew name Iskah from the Bible, which was spelled “Jeska” in some English translations of the Old Testament. The name means both “to see” and “to possess foresight.”
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It's a factShakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, leading scholars to believe he was probably born on the 23rd (baptisms usually occurred within three days after a birth). He died exactly 52 years later, on April 23, 1616 — at which time his legacy was still only in its infancy.
Though it took several hundred years, Jessica eventually became an extremely popular first name. It consistently ranked among the 10 most popular baby names for girls born in the U.S. between 1976 and 2000, reached the top spot 1985–1990, and reclaimed it 1993–1995. Its popularity has waned over the last decade, however, and in 2020 it ranked No. 399. If you’re a Jessica fan, fret not: A successful Merchant of Venice adaptation may be all it takes for the name to reclaim its former glory.
Numbers Don't Lie
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Actress ______ was named after Shakespeare’s wife.
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Actress Anne Hathaway was named after Shakespeare’s wife.
Some still doubt that Shakespeare wrote his own work.
Though there’s little evidence to support the theory, the humble circumstances of Shakespeare’s life and his lack of a university education have led some scholars to suggest that he was not the true author of his sophisticated, extraordinarily influential body of work. Dozens of other authors have been put forward as the man behind the pen, with Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, and Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, among the most notable names suggested by “anti-Stratfordians.” Others believe that a group of writers collaborated under the name of Shakespeare. The vast majority of scholars reject the theory, but it’s likely that Shakespeare himself would understand why it persists — there’s nothing like a little scandal and intrigue to pique a reader’s interest.
Michael Nordine is a writer and editor living in Denver. A native Angeleno, he has two cats and wishes he had more.
