Jeremaih

Meaning & origin

Jeremaih is a modern respelling of the classic biblical name Jeremiah. The name first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1962, though it remains extremely uncommon: it has never been common enough to register a rank in the national top 1000. Its peak usage came in 2006, but even then the total number of births was minuscule. The trajectory of the name has been falling since 2005, reflecting a shift away from nonstandard spellings of traditional names. Because no data is available for top states or a 1-in-N rate, it is clear that Jeremaih has never entered widespread use. Parents who choose this name are often drawn to the familiar sound of Jeremiah but prefer a more distinctive spelling.

Jeremaih is a variant spelling of Jeremiah, which derives from the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu, meaning 'Yahweh will exalt' or 'God will raise up.' Jeremiah is the name of a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible, and the English form has been in use since the Protestant Reformation. The spelling Jeremaih likely arose in the 20th century as a creative respelling.