unisex name
Jerusalem
juh-ROO-suh-lem (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Unisex
- Syllables 4
- Letters 9
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 481
Jerusalem is a rare unisex name taken from the holy city. The city's name comes from the Hebrew Yerushalayim, often read as "foundation of peace," and it's very old, appearing as Urusalim in ancient Near Eastern records.
- Jerusalem is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2020, when 29 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 174,520 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1981.
- 4 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Jerusalem Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1980s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 55 |
| 2000s | 114 |
| 2010s | 176 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 122 |
What Jerusalem Means
Jerusalem is traditionally read as foundation of peace or city of peace. As a first name it signals religious devotion to a place central to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and not a personal history.
Where Jerusalem Comes From
Ancient texts give the city's name as Urusalim, and many scholars read it as the foundation of Shalem, a Canaanite god, with salem later heard as peace. Hebrew Yerushalayim came through Greek Hierousalem and Latin into English. The first part may connect with the verb yara, to lay or throw, which fits the idea of a foundation. Jewish tradition gives the city seventy names. Use as a personal name is unusual and recent, and American birth records show it for both girls and boys. Salome and Salem draw on the same word.
Jerusalem in Use
The city is called Yerushalayim in Hebrew and Al-Quds in Arabic. William Blake's hymn Jerusalem shows how far the word stretched in Christian imagination, standing in for an ideal community.
How Popular Is Jerusalem?
In 2025, Jerusalem was given to 19 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
Where Jerusalem Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Jerusalem
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Jerusalem Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Jerusalem over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Jerusalem
- English juh-ROO-suh-lem
Jerusalem in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Arabic
- Salem
Sibling Names for Jerusalem
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Jerusalem — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Jerusalem
What does the name Jerusalem mean?
It's traditionally read as foundation of peace, from the Hebrew Yerushalayim.
Is Jerusalem a boy's or a girl's name?
It's used for both, and more often for girls in the United States.
Is Jerusalem a real first name?
Yes, though it's rare, and it's generally chosen for religious reasons.
How popular is the name Jerusalem?
In 2025, Jerusalem was given to 19 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
How many syllables are in Jerusalem?
Jerusalem has 4 syllables.
When was Jerusalem most popular?
Jerusalem peaked in 2020, when 29 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Jerusalem a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Jerusalem currently ranks #7,489 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.