Jeser
A biblical masculine name of uncertain meaning, possibly meaning "renown".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Jeser. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jeser today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jeser births was 2013 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jeser. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jeser. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2013
6 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#11,388
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Jeser: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Jeser by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jeser during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Jeser
The name Jeser is of Hebrew origin, derived from the root word "yasar," meaning "to form" or "to shape." It is believed to have emerged during the biblical era, as it is mentioned in the Old Testament as the name of one of the sons of Naphtali, a son of Jacob.
In ancient Hebrew texts, the name Jeser is often associated with concepts of creation, formation, and shaping. It is thought to symbolize the idea of being molded or shaped by divine forces or one's own actions and choices.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jeser can be found in the Book of Genesis, where it is listed as the name of one of the sons of Naphtali. However, beyond this biblical reference, there is little information about specific individuals bearing this name in ancient times.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Jeser. One such person was Jeser ben Durji (c. 1035-1108), a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher from Spain who made significant contributions to the study of Talmudic law and Jewish ethics.
Another historical figure with the name Jeser was Jeser ben Sheshet (1230-1305), a prominent Talmudic scholar and rabbinical authority from Spain. He was known for his influential works on Jewish law and his efforts to preserve and transmit Jewish knowledge during a time of persecution and upheaval.
In the 16th century, Jeser ben Joseph of Tlemcen (c. 1490-1560) was a renowned Jewish philosopher and kabbalist from Algeria. He wrote extensively on topics such as mysticism, ethics, and the interpretation of Jewish texts.
During the 18th century, Jeser ben Judah Loeb Margaliot (1738-1793) was a prominent Lithuanian rabbi and scholar. He authored several works on Jewish law and was known for his expertise in various fields of Jewish scholarship.
More recently, Jeser Cohen (1924-2001) was an Israeli writer and journalist who made significant contributions to the development of modern Hebrew literature. He was known for his novels, short stories, and essays that explored themes of identity, memory, and the human condition.
While the name Jeser has roots in ancient Hebrew and biblical times, it has remained relatively uncommon throughout history. However, the name's association with concepts of formation, creation, and shaping have endured, reflecting the enduring influence of its linguistic and cultural origins.
People
Jeser + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jeser as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jeser: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jeser?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jeser going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Jeser a common name?
We classify Jeser as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jeser most popular?
The single biggest year for Jeser was 2013, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jeser is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Jeser in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jeser a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jeser in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Jeser still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jeser in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Jeser can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Jeser?
Find out how many people have the name Jeser on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.