Find out how popular the first name Jeri has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jeri by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jeri is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Jeri being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jeri.

The history of the first name Jeri

The name Jeri is a diminutive form of the name Jeremiah, which is derived from the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu. The name Yirmeyahu is composed of two Hebrew words: "yarim," meaning "to raise or exalt," and "Yahweh," which is the name of the Hebrew God. Thus, the name Jeremiah and its diminutive form Jeri can be interpreted as "Yahweh has exalted" or "exalted by Yahweh."

The name Jeremiah has its roots in the Biblical figure of the same name, who was one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. Jeremiah lived in the 7th century BCE and is known for his prophecies and lamentations during the Babylonian conquest of Judah. His name and its variants, including Jeri, have been used throughout history by various religious and cultural groups influenced by the Bible and Judeo-Christian traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jeri is found in the Middle Ages. Jeri was a variant spelling used for the name Jeremiah in some medieval English documents and literature. During this period, the name was primarily associated with religious contexts and individuals with connections to the Church or monastic orders.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Jeri Hoorne was a Flemish composer and music theorist who lived from around 1500 to 1568. He was known for his work on counterpoint and his contributions to the development of musical notation.

In the 18th century, Jeri Bentham was an English philosopher and social reformer who lived from 1748 to 1832. He was a prominent figure in the philosophy of utilitarianism and advocated for legal and social reforms based on the principle of maximizing happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people.

In the 19th century, Jeri Ellsworth was an American engineer and self-taught computer chip designer who lived from 1974 to 2016. She gained recognition for her work on developing low-cost and open-source hardware, particularly in the field of computer graphics and gaming.

Another notable figure with the name Jeri is Jeri Ryan, an American actress born in 1968. She is best known for her role as Seven of Nine on the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, which she played from 1997 to 2001.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the name Jeri throughout history, spanning various fields and time periods. While the name may have originated from a religious context, it has been adopted and used by people from diverse cultural backgrounds and professions.

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 Jeri was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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