boy's name
Jesse
JESS-ee
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 478,837
the United States
#184
2025 births
Jesse is a name of Hebrew origin whose meaning is debated. It is usually given as "gift" or "the Lord exists," from Yishai, and belongs to the father of King David — making it one of the oldest continuously used names in the Bible.
- Jesse is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1981, when 10,823 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in US records.
- Today about 1 in 533 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Jesse over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Jesse is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 6,095 |
| 1890s | 5,522 |
| 1900s | 4,699 |
| 1910s | 16,607 |
| 1920s | 23,610 |
| 1930s | 19,194 |
| 1940s | 24,551 |
| 1950s | 26,921 |
| 1960s | 22,935 |
| 1970s | 46,019 |
| 1980s | 89,019 |
| 1990s | 77,026 |
| 2000s | 45,053 |
| 2010s | 25,666 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 12,003 |
What Jesse means
Jesse has no settled meaning. The readings offered are gift, the Lord exists, and wealthy, and the Hebrew Yishai is short enough that several roots can be argued for it.
Where Jesse comes from
Jesse transliterates the Hebrew Yishai, the father of David, and the shortness of the name is exactly why its meaning is unresolved — the consonant frame supports derivations from yesh, there is, giving the Lord exists, and from a root meaning gift. Isaiah's prophecy of a shoot from the stump of Jesse made the name theologically significant, and the medieval Jesse Tree — a stained-glass genealogy of Christ growing from a sleeping figure — is one of the standard subjects of church windows. English use began with the Puritans.
Jesse in use
Our data shows Jesse falling rather than rising, peaking in 1981, at 51 in England and Wales against 184 in the United States. It is recorded for both sexes, the female use being a separate short form of Jessica — an unrelated name coined by Shakespeare for The Merchant of Venice.
How popular is Jesse?
In 2025, Jesse was given to 989 babies in England and Wales, ranking #51 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Jesse is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
How Jesse is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Jessé | Jessé is a rare spelling of Jesse, written with an acute accent and recorded about 25 times, mostly in France. | 25 |
Names that peaked alongside Jesse
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Jesse also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Jesse over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Jesse
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Jesse 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.
- Hebrew
- Yishai
Sibling names for Jesse
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Jesse — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Jesse
What does the name Jesse mean?
The meaning is debated. "Gift" and "the Lord exists" are both offered, from the Hebrew Yishai.
Who was Jesse in the Bible?
The father of King David. Isaiah's prophecy of a shoot from the stump of Jesse made the name theologically significant.
Is Jesse a boy's or a girl's name?
Predominantly a boy's name. The female use is usually Jessie, a short form of the unrelated Jessica.
How popular is the name Jesse?
In 2025, Jesse was given to 989 babies in England and Wales, ranking #51 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
How many syllables are in Jesse?
Jesse has 2 syllables.
When was Jesse most popular?
Jesse peaked in 1981, when 10,823 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Jesse?
Jesse is usually shortened to Jess.
Is Jesse a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Jesse currently ranks #51 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.