Declining since 2021, #1,808 for boys today.
Popularity of Jessiah since 1978
Babies named Jessiah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 | 28 |
| 1990s | 0 | 102 |
| 2000s | 112 | 445 |
| 2010s | 172 | 1,000 |
| 2020s | 65 | 704 |
Meaning & origin
Jessiah is a modern American coinage that blends the familiar name Jesse with the fashionable suffix -iah, a pattern seen in popular Biblical names such as Josiah and Jeremiah. Since its first recorded appearance in 1978, Jessiah has remained a relatively rare choice, with its highest rank of 1808 occurring in 2020. In 2025, approximately 1 in 19,410 boys received the name. Its use has been declining since 2021, but it maintains a steady presence in states like New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida. While not tied to any specific cultural or religious tradition, Jessiah fits comfortably within the contemporary trend of inventively extending Biblical-sounding names.
Jessiah is a modern invented name, likely formed by blending the Biblical name Jesse with the -iah suffix found in names like Jeremiah and Josiah. The suffix -iah derives from the Hebrew element yah, referring to God. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1978 and has seen modest use, particularly peaking in 2020 at rank 1808.
Where Jessiah is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jess, Jesse, Jez
Variants: Jesiah
Sibling names for Jessiah
Names that share Jessiah's style, for a brother or sister.
