Jesse is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yishai, which means "God will exist." It is also associated with the biblical figure Jesse, who was the father of King David in the Old Testament.
The name Jesse gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages due to its use in literature and religion. It was used as a given name for boys, although it was more commonly used as a surname. In the 19th century, the name began to be used more frequently as a given name, particularly in the United States.
Today, Jesse is considered a classic boy's name, with a timeless and traditional feel. It has consistently ranked among the most popular names for boys in English-speaking countries over the past few decades. Variations of the name include Jess, Jessie, and Jas.
The statistics provided show a significant increase in the number of births named Jesse over time, with a total of 428,362 recorded births between 1880 and 2023. The name's popularity peaked during the late 1970s to early 1980s, with the highest number of births in 1981 (10,446) and 1980 (8,376). However, since then, there has been a steady decline in its popularity, with only 1,804 births recorded in 2023. This trend is common for many names that were popular during the mid-to-late 20th century.