Jerico is a unique and distinctive given name of Latin origin, meaning "to throw" or "to cast." It is derived from the verb 'iecur' which means 'liver,' an organ considered sacred in ancient times due to its role in divination. The name Jerico is believed to have been popularized by early Christians who associated it with the biblical city of Jericho, where Joshua and his army conquered and destroyed the walls after seven days of marching around them. However, there's no direct connection between the name Jerico and the biblical city; instead, it is likely that the name was independently derived from its Latin origin. Today, Jerico remains a rare yet intriguing choice for parents seeking an uncommon yet meaningful name for their child.
The name Jerico experienced notable fluctuations over the years, peaking at 41 births in 1992 and dropping to as low as 8 births in multiple years. There was a significant increase from 36 births in 2000 to 41 in 2002, but since then, its popularity has generally declined, with the most recent year (2023) showing an increase again to 25 births. Overall, Jerico has been a relatively uncommon name throughout these years, with only one year (1992) surpassing the 40 mark for births.