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Why parents love Jesse- Jesse Owens won four golds at Hitler's Olympics — the greatest act of defiance in sports.
- Jesse James is America's most famous outlaw.
- Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman is one of TV's most complex characters.
- Two syllables with a warm, versatile sound: JESS-ee.
- The meaning gift connects to David's lineage — the root of the royal tree.
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The vibe of Jesse
giftOwensOlympicsoutlawJamesPinkmandefianceDavid's-father
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Origin & history of Jesse
Hebrew יִשַׁי (Yishay, gift)
→ English Jesse
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Hebrew roots
Jesse comes from the Hebrew Yishay, meaning gift. In the Bible, Jesse is the father of King David — the root of the royal line. Jesse James (1847–1882) was America's most famous outlaw. Jesse Owens (1913–1980) won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, destroying Adolf Hitler's theories of Aryan racial superiority. Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is one of the most complex characters in TV history.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — 1 Samuel 16, where Jesse is the father of David.
3
Today
Jesse remains a beloved choice, ranking #191 in the US. 442,811 babies have been named Jesse since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, 1 Samuel 16, SSA data
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How popular is Jesse?
1981
peak year
Today, Jesse ranks around #191 in the United States, with roughly 2,114 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1981, 10,444 babies were given the name (ranked #37 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 1980s. Jesse's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 442,811 babies have been registered as Jesse since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
10,444
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #37)
(ranked #37)
2,114
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
21,140
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
442,811
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Jesse4
Life path number
The Builder
Discipline, reliability and masterful building.
Jesse's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — the root that nurtures kings. People named Jesse tend to be gifted, defiant, and capable of growing things that become greater than themselves.
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Root of kings✦
Grows greatness from himself◈
Defiant gift◎
Olympic courage♡
Complex humanityJ1
E5
S1
S1
E5
Sum: 13 → Life path 4
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Personality of Jesse🏛️
Steady & reliable
When they make a promise, they keep it.
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Methodical
Thorough, careful, precise.
💪
Quietly powerful
Their strength is always there when it matters.
🌿
Grounded
No matter what swirls around them, they stay centred.
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Famous people named JesseClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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If you like Jesse, you may also love◎
Names that sound like JesseIf you love Jesse, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with JesseSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Jesse.
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Middle names for JesseThe right middle name turns Jesse into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Jesse? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Jesse →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
Jesse is a beautiful choice.
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