Inessa

Inessa is a girl's baby name of Russian origin, a Russian form of Agnes, ultimately from the Greek hagnē meaning 'pure, holy.' Brought into Russian and Eastern European naming culture through Saint Agnes of Rome, the name has taken on a Slavic elegance that makes it feel quite distinct from its English counterpart.

Inessa was popularized in Russia partly through Inessa Armand, the revolutionary and close associate of Lenin. Today it carries a sophisticated, slightly old-world charm that feels fresh again — romantic and rare outside of Russian-speaking communities, yet completely familiar in Eastern Europe.