Jairus

At a Glance: Name: Jairus – Meaning: God enlightens, he will shine – Origin: Hebrew (via Greek and Latin) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: JY-rus

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Jairus is a Hebrew name, passed down through Greek and Latin, with a documented meaning of "God enlightens" or "he will shine." It's pronounced JY-rus (JAI-rus, to rhyme with "virus"). If you're drawn to names with a clear, on-the-record meaning rather than a vague or invented one, this is one where the meaning is documented rather than folklore.

Meaning & Origin of Jairus

Meaning: God enlightens, he will shine.

Origin: Hebrew (via Greek and Latin).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Jairus

Phonetic: JY-rus   IPA: /ˈdʒaɪrəs/

Popularity of Jairus

Jairus has been recorded in Social Security data going back to 1933, and it hit its high point in 1994 with 74 babies given the name, ranking #1356 that year. By 2024 it had fallen to #3627, with only 31 babies named Jairus — so it's currently rarer than it was three decades ago, though it has never been a common name in this data.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1933–2024.

Make Jairus Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Jairus, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Adler
• Aila
• Amabel
• Aphra
• Boden
• Calanthe

FAQ

What does the name Jairus mean?

God enlightens, he will shine. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jairus)

How do you pronounce Jairus?

Jairus is pronounced JY-rus (IPA: /ˈdʒaɪrəs/).

Is Jairus a popular name right now?

Jairus peaked at #1356 in 1994 and is ranked #3627 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1933–2024.)

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