Jesse (given name)

Jesse
The Biblical character Jesse, as depicted in a stained glass window in All Saints Church, Hove, England
Pronunciation/ˈd͡ʒɛ.si/ (English)
/ˈjɛ.sə/ (Dutch)
GenderUnisex
Language(s)English, Dutch
Origin
Language(s)Hebrew, Greek, Latin, English
Word/nameAnglicisation of Yišay (יִשַׁי)
Meaning"King" "God exists"
Region of originNorth America, Europe, Middle East
Other names
Variant form(s)
Short form(s)Jess
Related namesJessica, Jesus

Jesse is a given name of Hebrew origin. It derives its popularity from the biblical figure Jesse, father of Israelite monarch David. The English version is derived from the Latin Iesse, borrowed from the Ancient Greek Iessaí (Ἰεσσαί), and ultimately from the Hebrew Yišay (יִשַׁי).

The English name was translated into many languages (especially Romance languages and Greek). It has been a popular given name in many English-speaking countries since the 1880s.[1] Despite being similar in appearance, it is unrelated in origin to the given name Jessica.