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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Hebrew name of debated root, often glossed 'gift' or 'God exists'
- Origin
- Hebrew (biblical)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- JES-ee
Jesse is a Hebrew biblical name, pronounced JES-ee, that's often flatly said to mean 'gift' — but Hebrew scholars actually disagree on its root, and 'God exists' is just as common a gloss. It sits in the timeless, classic and clean, modern style camps, so it reads as familiar without feeling dated.
Meaning & Origin of Jesse
Meaning: Hebrew name of debated root, often glossed 'gift' or 'God exists'.
Origin: Hebrew (biblical).
A common claim: 'gift' (Hebrew) Actually: Often stated flatly as meaning 'gift,' but Hebrew scholars aren't in full agreement on the root — 'God exists' is an equally common alternate gloss.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Jesse
JES-eeIPA /ˈdʒɛsi/
Popularity of Jesse
Jesse peaked at #26 back in 1882 with 660 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had settled to #187 with 1,980 babies — a name that's been on the SSA's radar continuously from 1880 through 2024.
Names Like Jesse
These names share Jesse’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Jesse mean?
Hebrew name of debated root, often glossed ‘gift’ or ‘God exists’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Jesse?
Jesse is pronounced JES-ee (IPA: /ˈdʒɛsi/).
Is Jesse a popular name right now?
Jesse peaked at #26 in 1882 and is ranked #187 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Jesse Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Jesse, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Jesse? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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