What Does the Name Jesse Mean?
Jesse is a unisex name of Hebrew origin meaning “gift, or God exists.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Jesse |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | gift, or God exists |
| Variants | Jessie, Yishai, Jess, Jessamyn |
| Popularity | A steadily popular boys' name in the US, peaking in the 1980s-90s; 'Jessie' is more often used for girls. |
The meaning and origin of Jesse
The name Jesse means “gift, or God exists” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew Yishai, the name of the father of King David in the Bible, traditionally interpreted as 'gift' or 'God exists.' Predominantly male historically, it sees some unisex use, partly via the spelling Jessie.
Variants and related names
Jesse is related to several other names you may recognize: Jessie, Yishai, Jess, Jessamyn. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Jesse?
A steadily popular boys' name in the US, peaking in the 1980s-90s; 'Jessie' is more often used for girls.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Jesse below.
Generate a fake Jesse profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jesse mean?+
The name Jesse means “gift, or God exists” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Jesse?+
Jesse originates from Hebrew.
Is Jesse a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Jesse has trended in the US over time.
Jesse by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press