Vanissa

Vanissa is a modern coinage, likely inspired by the scientific name for the genus of butterflies, *Vanessa*. The name *Vanessa* itself was invented by Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, a woman he tutored and with whom he had a close relationship, in his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa' (written around 1713, published 1726). Swift formed the name by taking 'Van' from Vanhomrigh and adding 'Essa', a diminutive of Esther.

While *Vanessa* has a clear literary origin, *Vanissa* appears to be a variant that emerged later, possibly as a phonetic or stylistic alteration. It shares the elegant and somewhat exotic feel of its root name, and its association with butterflies lends it a delicate and beautiful imagery.