Vanessa (name) Vanessa (name) Vanessa is a feminine given name, especially popular in the United States, Germany and Brazil. It was invented by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, whom Swift had met in 1708 and whom he tutored. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", a pet form of Esther. In 1726 the name Vanessa appeared in print for the first time in "Cadenus and Vanessa", an autobiographical poem about Swift's relationship with Vanhomrigh. Swift had written the poem in 1713, but it was not published until three years after Vanhomrigh died.
I Have A Name Project I Have A Name Project The I Have A Name Project, "IHAN," strives to raise awareness about homelessness and empathy for the homeless. The project has displayed photos of homeless people in exhibits and has been influential and popular on social media. In 2007, Jon Linton—a photographer based out of Phoenix, Arizona—began a project to document homelessness in Phoenix to create awareness and bring about change. While working on the project, Linton walked around Phoenix. He came across a man who was holding a sign that said he was Vietnam War Veteran, Chuck Ridgeway, and Linton asked him his name.