Submitted Name Gender Feminine Usage English (American, Rare) Pronounced Pron. beh-NESS-uh Edit Status Status Contributor Contrib.armydad3_8 on 4/7/2013 Last Editor EditorFrollein Gladys on 1/10/2016 Meaning & History Possibly an Anglicized form of Benicia which was influenced by Vanessa. It might also be a combination of Ben and Vanessa or similar names ending in -essa.