Jesse first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Jesse

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift" or "gift of God".

Popularity of Jesse by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jesse is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 96% of people named Jesse being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,804 male babies and 72 female babies born with the name Jesse.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 72 baby girls were named Jesse in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,804 72
2022 1,952 49
2021 1,896 69
2020 1,878 63
2019 1,969 59
2018 2,143 82
2017 2,103 76
2016 2,306 67
2015 2,354 66
2014 2,467 72
2013 2,567 70
2012 2,708 79
2011 2,970 81
2010 3,277 108
2009 3,682 108
2008 3,953 120
2007 4,129 117
2006 4,370 122
2005 4,746 173
2004 4,760 181
2003 4,605 172
2002 4,431 190
2001 4,222 195
2000 4,485 282
1999 5,004 355
1998 5,444 271
1997 5,918 263
1996 7,075 289
1995 7,494 367
1994 8,683 357
1993 8,264 336
1992 8,561 312
1991 8,369 338
1990 8,977 347
1989 8,858 314
1988 7,911 318
1987 7,983 322
1986 8,544 354
1985 8,220 279
1984 7,608 287
1983 8,470 257
1982 9,502 308
1981 10,448 380
1980 8,382 292
1979 6,682 227
1978 6,109 191
1977 5,823 163
1976 5,302 136
1975 4,437 117
1974 4,106 83

The history of the first name Jesse

The name Jesse originates from the Hebrew language and culture. It first appeared around the 11th century BCE as a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Yishāy or Yishai, meaning "gift" or "Yahweh exists". The name is derived from the Hebrew root word "yesh", meaning "to be" or "to exist".

Jesse is a prominent name in the Bible, notably as the father of the famous King David in the Old Testament. The Book of Ruth and the Books of Samuel mention Jesse as a resident of Bethlehem and a descendant of the tribe of Judah. This biblical figure is considered an important ancestor of Jesus Christ in the genealogical accounts found in the New Testament.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jesse dates back to the 9th century BCE, when it was found inscribed on a potsherd from the ancient city of Lachish in present-day Israel. This archaeological evidence suggests that the name was in use among the Israelites during this period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jesse. One of the most famous was Jesse James (1847-1882), the American outlaw and former Confederate guerrilla who led a gang of outlaws in the American Old West. Another was Jesse Owens (1913-1980), the renowned African American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Jesse Norman (1962-), a British philosopher and politician, served as a Minister for Industry and Energy in the UK government. Jesse Ventura (1951-) is an American politician, actor, and former professional wrestler who served as the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. Jesse L. Brown (1926-1950) was a pioneering African American naval aviator who served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War.

The name Jesse has been popular across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its biblical roots and historical significance. Its meaning of "gift" or "Yahweh exists" has contributed to its enduring appeal as a first name throughout the centuries.

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

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

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"Jesse first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jesse-meaning-and-history/.

"Jesse first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jesse-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Jesse first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jesse-meaning-and-history/.

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