Boy
Hebrew
2 syllables
Jesse
JES-ee
/ˈdʒɛs.i/
"A gift freely given" — rooted in scripture, worn by legends
Jesse is the English form of the Hebrew Yishai, meaning 'gift' or 'God exists.' In the Bible, Jesse was the father of King David, giving the name deep royal and prophetic resonance — Isaiah 11:1 speaks of 'a shoot from the stump of Jesse.' The name has been used in the American West as an archetypal frontier name and maintains a warm, unpretentious character that spans generations.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesJes · se
GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
Root WordYishai
MeaningGift; God exists
PopularityPopular
Peak Year1985
Trend
→ Stable
Nicknames
JessJay
About the Name Jesse
Jesse comes from the Hebrew Yishai, meaning 'gift' or possibly 'God exists.' In the Bible, Jesse was the father of King David, and the name carries prophetic and royal associations. It is a name that blends humility with deep heritage.
Jesse was a top-50 name in the US during the 1980s and has remained in the top 200 since. It is consistently used across the English-speaking world and has a timeless quality that keeps it relevant.
Jesse is associated with warmth, independence, and a free-spirited nature. People named Jesse are often seen as authentic, adventurous, and deeply loyal. The name carries the spirit of the American frontier alongside biblical depth.
Jesse pairs beautifully with short, strong middle names: Jesse Cole, Jesse Ray, and Jesse Dean all have great rhythm. Longer options like Jesse Alexander or Jesse Nathaniel also work well.
Jesse is the English rendering of the Hebrew Yishai, a name found in the Old Testament. It was carried into the English-speaking world through biblical translations and has been in use since the Puritan era in America.
Jess is the most common nickname for Jesse. Jay is another informal option. The name is short enough that many bearers use it in full.
Personality of Jesse
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Jesse
Creativity
70%
Elegance
62%
Independence
80%
Intelligence
72%
Strength
76%
Warmth
84%
Famous People Named Jesse
J
Jesse James
Infamous American outlaw of the post-Civil War era
J
Jesse Owens
American track-and-field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
J
Jesse Eisenberg
American actor known for The Social Network and Zombieland
J
Jesse Pinkman
Fictional character from the TV series Breaking Bad
Middle Names for Jesse
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Jesse
Jesse Jesse James
Jesse Jesse Thomas
Jesse Jesse William
Jesse Jesse Alexander
Jesse Jesse Cole
Jesse Jesse Ray
Jesse Jesse Owen
Jesse Jesse Dean
Jesse Jesse Blake
Jesse Jesse Nathaniel
Names Similar to Jesse
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Jesse
1000 BC
Jesse of Bethlehem mentioned in Hebrew scriptures as the father of King David
700 BC
Isaiah prophesies a shoot from Jesse's stump, cementing the name's messianic significance
1800s
Jesse becomes popular in the American West, partly through outlaw Jesse James
1980s
Jesse peaks in the US top 50; remains steady and well-loved into the 21st century
Numerology & Symbolism of Jesse
4
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
1
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Sagittarius
5
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Gold
💎
Lucky Stone
Topaz
🌸
Lucky Flower
Sunflower
Jesse Around the World
How Jesse is written in different languages and scripts
جيسي
Arabic
ジェシー
Japanese
Джесси
Russian
제시
Korean
杰西
Chinese
Τζέσι
Greek
जेसी
Hindi
יִשַׁי
Hebrew
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