Jessamy

See also: jessamy

English

Etymology

Equivalent to Jasmine and Jessamine. Popularized by the character Jessamy in Barbara Sleigh's 1967 children's book Jessamy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɛsəmi/, enPR: jĕʹsəmi
• Rhymes: -ɛsəmɪ
• Hyphenation: Jess‧a‧my

Proper noun

Jessamy (plural Jessamies)

1. A female given name
   • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, 1993 edition, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 32:

     Jessamy’s eyes widened. What was it Matchett had said? That she would not take sauce from Jessamy because she was ‘only the housekeeper’s niece and the cook-housekeeper at that?’

   • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, 1993 edition, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 146:

     ‘Aunt Maggie, why was I ever called Jessamy?’ And as she said it she wondered why she had never thought to ask before. Her aunt changed the heavy suitcase to the other hand and said, ‘It was your mother’s name.’ Jessamy’s heart gave a little jump inside her, and Aunt Maggie went on: ‘When I said I thought it was too fly-away, and wouldn’t Ann or Mary be more sensible, she said that the eldest daughter was always called Jessamy in her family.’

Alternative forms

• Jessamie

Related terms

• Jess, Jesse, Jessie, Jessamyn

Further reading

• Nook of Names: Jessamy
• Real life usage of names: See customer reviews of book