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Jesse as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Jesse

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The baby name Jesse is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈdʒɛsi/ (JESS-ee).

Jesse is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: /ˈdʒɛsi/ (JESS-ee)

What is the meaning of the name Jesse ?

The baby name Jesse is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈdʒɛsi/ (JESS-ee).

Jesse is Hebrew in Origin.

Jesse is the Anglicized form of Hebrew Yishai (also transcribed Ishai), father of King David in the Hebrew Bible. Through the Septuagint’s Iessai and Latin Iesse, it entered medieval European languages; the “Root/Tree of Jesse” became a key motif in Christian art and messianic prophecy. The name’s etymology is uncertain; proposals include “gift” or “wealth,” with many modern sources glossing it broadly as “gift.”

In English, Jesse appears from the Middle Ages and persisted with renewed favor among Reformation Protestants and early American Puritans. It has remained a steady masculine given name in the United States and elsewhere. International equivalents include Isaí (Spanish), Jessé (Portuguese and French), and Jesse in Dutch and Scandinavian use; Hebrew today uses Yishai/Ishai. Common short forms are Jess and, in Scotland, Jessie (also widely feminine). Variant spellings include Jessey and Jessee; related feminine forms include Jessie and Jessi.

Jesse has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Jesse

Jesse Jackson Politician · Born 1941 · United States Jesse Jackson was best known as a leading American civil rights activist and political figure. He was also an ordained Baptist minister and advocate for LGBTQ rights, and he founded organizations including Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition. Jesse McCartney Actor · Born 1987 · United States Jesse McCartney is an American actor and singer, best known for his hit song 'Beautiful Soul'. He gained fame as a teen idol in the early 2000s and also starred in the TV series 'Summerland'. Jesse Spencer Actor|musician · Born 1979 · United States Jesse Spencer is an actor and musician best known for his role as Dr. Robert Chase on the TV show House. He also starred as Captain Matthew Casey on the series Chicago Fire. Born in 1979, Jesse hails from the United States and has showcased his musical talents with the band Band from TV.
Jesse Ventura Politician · Born 1951 · United States Jesse Ventura is best known as a professional wrestler and later as the governor of Minnesota. A Vietnam veteran, actor, and politician, he rose to fame in the World Wrestling Federation and served as Minnesota’s 38th governor from 1999 to 2003. Jesse Jane Actor · Born 1980 · United States Jesse Jane was an American adult film actress best known for her work in pornographic films. She became especially well known for titles like Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge and Middle Men. Jesse Plemons Actor · Born 1988 · United States Jesse Plemons is an American actor best known for Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, and The Power of the Dog. He’s known for working with acclaimed directors and for playing offbeat, memorable characters, and he has earned major honors including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and nominations for an Academy Award and multiple Emmy Awards.

Celebrity babies named Jesse

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Jesse Dylan Sara Dylan model ★★★★★ Bob Dylan film director ★★★★★
Jesse Bongiovi Jon Bon Jovi television actor ★★★★★
Jesse Smith Patti Smith film director ★★★★★ Fred Smith singer ★★★★★
Jesse Grylls Bear Grylls television presenter ★★★★★
Jesse Johnson Patti D'Arbanville television actor ★★★★★ Don Johnson film director ★★★★★
Jesse Wood Ronnie Wood singer ★★★★★

Jesse – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
Germany Boys 2022 #1 — 427
Ireland Girls 2018 #1 — 934
FJ Boys 0 #16 2 603
BW 0 #19 1 960
KR Boys 0 #26 2 897
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
Finland Boys 0 #38 3,275 2,041
MO 0 #48 5 2,706
New Zealand Boys 2010 #53 87 99
CM 0 #56 1 2,592
Finland Boys 2026 #59 11,120 3,552
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
CN 0 #72 14 3,857
JP 0 #72 6 4,057
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
TW 0 #82 19 4,523
JM 0 #89 5 3,714
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
PH 0 #102 9 5,607
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
QA 0 #104 3 7,011
GE Girls 0 #108 1 1,564
NL Boys 0 #109 4,762 5,873
GE Boys 0 #110 1 2,055
Finland 0 #112 359 830
BN Girls 0 #113 2 5,459
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
EE Boys 0 #120 6 2,087
OM 0 #120 2 6,215
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
Switzerland Boys 2024 #133 5 1,769
BN Boys 0 #133 7 6,332
PA 0 #134 5 3,797
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
TW Boys 0 #140 108 7,111
CR 0 #143 16 5,526
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
BW Boys 0 #152 3 4,685
PR Boys 0 #162 13 2,508
Belgium Boys 2024 #165 24 401
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
Canada Boys 2024 #169 143 2,588
HU Boys 0 #173 2 3,954
United States Boys 2024 #177 1,980 7,044
Sweden Boys 2022 #179 4 1,509
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
CN Boys 0 #180 156 9,639
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
AE 0 #181 7 10,220
UY 0 #181 2 2,477
LU Girls 0 #187 4 4,850
AR 0 #193 1 2,915
RU 0 #193 2 3,641
MO Boys 0 #198 26 5,842
LU Boys 0 #204 15 4,970
NL 0 #204 209 2,481
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
AO Girls 0 #215 3 4,575
NA Boys 0 #218 18 6,830
AO Boys 0 #219 24 5,568
BG Boys 0 #219 2 3,850
GH 0 #223 21 5,396
GH Boys 0 #223 133 8,138
PS 0 #224 3 5,692
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
NG 0 #228 37 5,926
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
NA Girls 0 #235 3 7,146
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
JM Boys 0 #241 32 6,876
SG 0 #245 25 11,010
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
JP Girls 0 #249 3 6,592
PT 0 #249 2 4,161
EC Girls 0 #251 8 3,650
HR Boys 0 #257 3 3,997
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
GR Boys 0 #271 3 6,912
JM Girls 0 #272 7 7,507
JP Boys 0 #274 24 7,909
IL 0 #279 4 6,291
SA 0 #283 13 10,560
PH Boys 0 #284 100 11,440
Canada Girls 2021 #286 5 2,910
TW Girls 0 #286 4 8,139
CZ Boys 0 #294 11 6,530
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
MY 0 #295 36 12,352
CR Boys 0 #296 223 10,188
AL Boys 0 #302 2 5,122
DK Boys 0 #314 12 7,401
PL Boys 0 #317 19 6,459
HK 0 #319 30 8,483
PE 0 #324 6 6,350
BR 0 #329 17 5,969
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
KZ Girls 0 #330 3 5,862
CN Girls 0 #333 17 8,829
GH Girls 0 #333 5 6,973
GT 0 #335 4 5,948
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
QA Girls 0 #340 4 15,378
MU Boys 0 #348 10 8,477
PT Boys 0 #348 20 7,951
MU Girls 0 #358 5 8,539
PH Girls 0 #368 23 13,098
BR Boys 0 #370 525 12,213
ZA 0 #371 77 14,421
France Boys 2021 #372 16 2,865
NG Boys 0 #378 1,064 16,906
HK Boys 0 #379 153 12,905
MX 0 #380 34 8,339
JO Boys 0 #385 5 7,057
France Girls 2020 #392 3 3,215
YE 0 #393 6 8,639
BO 0 #405 4 6,868
UY Boys 0 #409 5 5,922
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
OM Girls 0 #418 7 15,987
Germany 0 #421 17 2,542
Austria Boys 0 #427 16 2,180
CL 0 #428 7 6,867
Spain 0 #440 13 2,326
GT Boys 0 #444 31 7,625
SD Boys 0 #459 8 10,523
PA Boys 0 #462 20 9,305
PA Girls 0 #465 17 9,861
RU Boys 0 #465 41 12,621
CO 0 #467 14 7,768
PT Girls 0 #467 5 7,952
RU Girls 0 #478 21 11,913
AR Boys 0 #480 4 7,628
GT Girls 0 #482 24 7,500
KW Girls 0 #497 19 19,177
CR Girls 0 #498 35 11,342
MX Boys 0 #513 627 16,355
CM Boys 0 #515 36 12,054
PS Boys 0 #517 32 10,655
IQ Girls 0 #518 8 11,303
UY Girls 0 #535 2 6,731
SG Girls 0 #538 49 18,916
PS Girls 0 #541 7 10,981
AE Girls 0 #542 12 20,968
BH 0 #543 11 17,937
IR Boys 0 #543 10 10,162
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
LY 0 #553 7 12,703
CM Girls 0 #557 4 11,671
IL Boys 0 #569 39 10,983
BO Boys 0 #575 18 9,244
HK Girls 0 #579 37 16,104
BD Boys 0 #603 3 10,045
SG Boys 0 #618 80 17,960
AR Girls 0 #623 8 8,289
CL Boys 0 #631 35 13,390
ZA Boys 0 #637 660 25,619
IL Girls 0 #641 5 11,648
BO Girls 0 #645 7 9,488
LB 0 #649 10 13,263
IN Girls 0 #653 2 13,121
IQ Boys 0 #653 15 13,071
QA Boys 0 #681 27 18,093
IT 0 #687 28 4,183
NG Girls 0 #695 92 15,093
SY 0 #712 17 11,684
Finland Girls 2026 #728 11 3,895
KW Boys 0 #737 33 18,755
Germany Boys 0 #778 175 5,697
CL Girls 0 #801 51 14,098
Germany Girls 0 #804 35 4,949
CO Boys 0 #812 109 15,656
PE Boys 0 #816 63 14,506
TN 0 #817 13 13,765
NL Girls 0 #819 137 5,933
United States Girls 2024 #844 73 8,487
OM Boys 0 #851 31 17,948
Spain Boys 0 #861 70 5,610
EG Boys 0 #863 24 15,035
EG Girls 0 #868 92 14,742
MY Girls 0 #892 103 24,821
PE Girls 0 #892 52 14,861
SA Girls 0 #907 29 25,931
BR Girls 0 #928 14 12,708
MX Girls 0 #934 253 17,781
MY Boys 0 #934 179 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #942 200 25,928
Spain Girls 0 #963 21 5,561
CO Girls 0 #976 103 16,140
IN Boys 0 #984 18 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,036 57 22,615
MA 0 #1,078 51 20,986
DZ 0 #1,151 26 20,130
TR 0 #1,172 40 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,231 241 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,406 41 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,461 154 28,008

Jesse is popular in 88 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Canada
Belgium
Flanders, Belgium

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Jesse

Jesse is predominantly a boy's name.
Jesse is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈdʒɛsi/ (JESS-ee).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Jessie, Jessy, Jessi, Jessey and Jess.
Yes, very popular — Jesse ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 12 countries.
Jesse ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Jesse's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 15 notable people named Jesse are in our database, including Jesse Jackson (Politician), Jesse McCartney (Actor), Jesse Spencer (Actor|musician).
Yes — at least 6 celebrity couples have chosen Jesse for their child, including Sara Dylan and Bob Dylan.