Name meaning & stats
Jesse
Jesse means “gift (debated)” (Hebrew origin). 369,193 US babies since 1940, peak 1981. Notable Jesses are 1.8× over-represented as singers.
What it means
“gift (debated)”
HebrewDebated
In US birth records
Peak year: 1981
369,193 US babies were named Jesse between 1940 and 2025.
Where Jesses end up
Not enough notable Jesses yet, so this uses the spelling family: Jesse, Jess, Jesus.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 1.3× | High · 43 people |
| Musician | 1.5× | High · 34 people |
| Singer | 1.8× | High · 33 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.0× | High · 33 people |
Among notable men who are singers, the Jesse family show up 1.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 60% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1981)