Jesses is of Hebrew origin and means "God is salvation". It is a modern variant of Jesse, which has been used as a given name since medieval times. The name gained popularity due to its biblical association, as Jesse was the father of King David in the Old Testament. Jesses is currently more common among boys than girls, but it can be used for either gender. The name appears in literature and pop culture, such as in the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, where the main character Holden Caulfield has a younger brother named Allie (short for Allison), who is sometimes referred to as Jesse or Jesses.
The name Jesse's popularity has been quite consistent over the years, with a peak in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and then stabilizing around five to six births per year up until the late 1980s.