Jeshua, derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshuah, means 'God is salvation'. It is of biblical origin, being borne by several figures in the Old Testament. The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries due to its usage in the New Testament as another form of Joshua, who was a companion of Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land after his death.
The name Jeshua experienced a notable increase in popularity from the late 1970s onwards, with a significant spike starting around the year 2000. From 1973 to 1976, there were fewer than 12 births each year, but by 1983, this number had more than doubled to 21 births. This trend continued into the new millennium, reaching a peak of 150 births in 2004 and remaining above 100 births per year until around 2017. Since then, the popularity of the name Jeshua has declined somewhat, with fewer than 60 births recorded each year between 2015 and 2023. In total, there have been 2514 births named Jeshua from 1973 to 2023.