Rising since 1987, #1,005 for boys today.
Popularity of Yeshua since 1976
Babies named Yeshua per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 69 |
| 2000s | 452 |
| 2010s | 1,236 |
| 2020s | 936 |
Meaning & origin
The name Yeshua has seen a clear upward trajectory since the 1980s, reflecting growing interest in biblical names in their original Hebrew forms. First recorded in U.S. data in 1976, it peaked in 2024 and continues to rise, with a rank of 1005 in 2025. It is most common in Wisconsin, California, and New Jersey, states with significant Jewish and Christian communities. While still relatively rare, its connection to the name Jesus gives it deep religious resonance, and the upward trend suggests increasing familiarity.
Yeshua is the Hebrew original of the name Jesus, derived from the root y-sh-‘ meaning 'to save' or 'to deliver.' It was a common given name in Second Temple period Judea, borne by several figures in the Hebrew Bible as a variant of Joshua. In Christian tradition, Yeshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus of Nazareth, and the name has seen renewed interest among religious families in recent decades.
Where Yeshua is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yeshua” around the world
Where Yeshua lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yesh, Shua
Sibling names for Yeshua
Names that share Yeshua's style, for a brother or sister.
