Find out how popular the first name Jah has been for the last 42 years (from 1982 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jah by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Jah is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 40 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jah.

The history of the first name Jah

The name Jah originates from the Hebrew word "Yah," which is a shortened form of the name "Yahweh," the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. This name has its roots in ancient Semitic languages and cultures, dating back thousands of years.

The name Jah is closely associated with the Rastafari movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s. Rastafarians consider Jah to be the supreme being and the name is often used as a term of reverence and respect. The Rastafari movement was heavily influenced by the teachings of Marcus Garvey, a prominent Pan-Africanist leader, and the biblical figure of the Ethiopian king, Haile Selassie I, who was regarded as a divine figure by Rastafarians.

In the Hebrew Bible, the name Jah appears in several places, including the Book of Psalms and the Book of Isaiah. For example, in Psalm 68:4, it is written, "Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him." This verse highlights the use of Jah as a name for the Almighty.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jah can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of ancient Hebrew manuscripts dating back to the 3rd century BCE. The name appears in various forms, such as "Yah" and "Yahweh," further cementing its ancient origins.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Jah or a variation of it. One of the most famous is Jah Rastafari, a moniker used by Rastafarians to refer to Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, who was born in 1892 and died in 1975. Another notable figure is Jah Shaka, a pioneering Jamaican sound system operator and producer, who was instrumental in the early development of reggae music.

In addition, there were historical figures such as Jah Rastafari Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, and Jah Seh Rastafari, a Jamaican Rastafarian elder who played a significant role in the spread of the Rastafari movement. Jah Cure, a contemporary reggae artist from Jamaica, and Jah Wobble, an English musician known for his work with Public Image Ltd, also bear this name or variations of it.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jah, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!