Jairus as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Jairus

What is the meaning of the name Jairus ?

The baby name Jairus is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈdʒeɪrəs/ (JAY-rus).

Jairus is Hebrew in Origin.

Jairus is the English form of Greek Iaeiros (via Latin Iairus), the New Testament rendering of Hebrew Yair. From the verb ya’ir, “to give light” or “to shine,” it is interpreted as “he will enlighten” or “he gives light.” The Old Testament records Jair (Yair), a Gileadite judge, while the Greek form Jairus refers to the synagogue leader whose daughter Jesus restored to life (Mark 5; Luke 8), giving the name resonances of renewal and hope.

Used in English since the Reformation through vernacular Bibles - especially the King James Version - the name saw modest Puritan-era and 19th‑century use before becoming rare. International variants include Jair and Yair, Spanish and Portuguese Jairo, and Italian Giairo; related diminutives include Jai and Jae. The biblical pair Jair/Jairus sometimes alternate in records, and modern Israeli use favors Yair. Though uncommon today, Jairus remains a distinctive, vintage choice with a luminous meaning.