National Vanessa Day
Friday, March 20, 2026
A Name Built from a Cipher. Swift constructed the name by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's surname and adding "Essa," a pet form of Esther. He used it in the poem "Cadenus and Vanessa," composed around 1713, where "Cadenus" is an anagram of Decanus, the Latin word for Dean, reflecting Swift's own position as Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral.The poem was not intended for public consumption. It circulated only in manuscript during Swift's lifetime. After Vanhomrigh died in 1723 at the age of 35, the poem was published in 1726, introducing the name Vanessa to a wide readership for the first time
History
A Name Built from a Cipher. Swift constructed the name by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's surname and adding "Essa," a pet form of Esther. He used it in the poem "Cadenus and Vanessa," composed around 1713, where "Cadenus" is an anagram of Decanus, the Latin word for Dean, reflecting Swift's own position as Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral.The poem was not intended for public consumption. It circulated only in manuscript during Swift's lifetime. After Vanhomrigh died in 1723 at the age of 35, the poem was published in 1726, introducing the name Vanessa to a wide readership for the first time
How It's Celebrated
National Vanessa Day is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.