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At a Glance: Name: Jericho – Meaning: possibly 'moon city' (linked to a Canaanite root for 'moon') — the ancient root is disputed among scholars – Origin: Hebrew (ancient place name transferred to given-name use) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: JEHR-ih-koh
Jericho is a Hebrew name, an ancient place name that's crossed over into use as a given name, carrying a bold, adventurous feel alongside a touch of storybook romance. It's pronounced JEHR-ih-koh. You may have heard it explained as meaning 'moon city,' but that's not a settled fact — the ancient root is genuinely disputed among scholars, so it's better understood as a leading guess than a certainty.
Meaning & Origin of Jericho
Meaning: Possibly 'moon city' (linked to a canaanite root for 'moon') — the ancient root is disputed among scholars.
Origin: Hebrew (ancient place name transferred to given-name use).
A common claim: 'moon city' (Hebrew) Actually: Often stated as settled fact, but the ancient root is genuinely disputed among scholars — 'moon city' is a leading hypothesis, not a certainty.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Jericho
Phonetic: JEHR-ih-koh IPA: /ˈdʒɛrɪkoʊ/
Popularity of Jericho
In 2024, Jericho ranked #903 among boys' names with 259 babies given the name, just off its peak of #887 in 2023, when 262 boys received it.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1970–2024.
Make Jericho Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Jericho, 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.
FAQ
What does the name Jericho mean?
Possibly ‘moon city’ (linked to a canaanite root for ‘moon’) — the ancient root is disputed among scholars. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jericho)
How do you pronounce Jericho?
Jericho is pronounced JEHR-ih-koh (IPA: /ˈdʒɛrɪkoʊ/).
Is Jericho a popular name right now?
Jericho is near its all-time peak (#887 in 2023), ranked #903 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1970–2024.)
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