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

Popularity of Jericho by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jericho is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Jericho being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 261 male babies and 12 female babies born with the name Jericho.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 12 baby girls were named Jericho in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Jericho

The name Jericho has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture, originating from the ancient Canaanite city of Jericho, which is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "Yeriho," which means "fragrant" or "moon," possibly referring to the city's fertile lands or the lunar-like appearance of its walls.

Jericho holds a significant place in biblical history, as it is mentioned in the Book of Joshua as the first city conquered by the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. The famous story of the Battle of Jericho, where the walls of the city crumbled after the Israelites marched around it for seven days, has become a famous biblical tale.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jericho can be found in the Bible, where a man named Jericho is mentioned in 2 Samuel 10:16-18 as a servant of King David. In the 4th century BCE, Jericho was also the name of a Jewish scribe who is mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jericho. Jericho Brown (born 1976) is an American poet and writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2020 for his collection "The Tradition." Jericho Petilla (born 1981) is a Filipino professional basketball player who has played in the Philippine Basketball Association.

In the world of entertainment, Jericho Rosales (born 1979) is a popular Filipino actor and model, while Jericho Walton (born 1981) is an American musician and former member of the rock band Papa Roach. Jericho Scott (born 1976) is a former American professional basketball player who played in the NBA and several international leagues.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Jericho, a name deeply rooted in ancient Canaanite and Hebrew traditions, and one that has maintained its significance across various cultures and time periods.

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

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

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