Jebediah

A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 737 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#4352 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A male given name.

Jebediah is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a variant of Jedediah, meaning 'beloved of God' or 'friend of God' — from the Hebrew yadid (beloved, friend) and Yah (God). In the Old Testament, Jedediah was the name given to Solomon by the prophet Nathan, signifying God's special love for the child.

Jebediah carries the sturdy, pioneer spirit of old American biblical names — the kind of name found on family Bibles and frontier gravestones. It has a warm, old-fashioned charm that has been embraced by parents who love vintage Old Testament names with character and weight. Nearly 740 recorded births show it has maintained a devoted following across generations.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Jebediah's final sounds are strong, devotional — rooted in Hebrew theophoric naming. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Jebediah follows that masculine pattern.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Jebediah's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

#4352

Current Rank

737

Total births

Since 1973

2016

Peak year

29 births

Compare Jebediah with another name

Popularity Over Time

Jebediah climbed 1602 spots in the last 20 years — from #5954 to #4352.

First appeared: 1973Peak: 2016 (29 births)Current: #4352

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Jebediah
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	101	#5046	▼
2010s	197	#5227	▲
2000s	156	#5557	▲
1990s	69	#7283	▼
1980s	105	#4568	—
1970s	109	#2942	—

The Story of Jebediah

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2016, Jebediah is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Jebediah are most likely born between 2006 and 2024.

How rare is Jebediah?

Only about 1 in every 150,000 babies born in 2024 was named Jebediah — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1973, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2010s with 197 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Jebediah by the numbers

Would fill 15 school buses
Meeting one Jebediah per day would take 2 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(51 years, 1973–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Jebediah
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	24	#4352	+4 (20.0%)
2023	20	#4962	+3 (17.6%)
2022	17	#5523	-10 (-37.0%)
2021	27	#3949	+14 (107.7%)
2020	13	#6444	-13 (-50.0%)
2019	26	#4051	+12 (85.7%)
2018	14	#6163	-8 (-36.4%)
2017	22	#4526	-7 (-24.1%)
2016	29	#3727	+1 (3.6%)
2015	28	#3821	+2 (7.7%)
2014	26	#3952	+10 (62.5%)
2013	16	#5510	+5 (45.5%)
2012	11	#7266	-2 (-15.4%)
2011	13	#6389	+1 (8.3%)
2010	12	#6863	-6 (-33.3%)
2009	18	#5191	+8 (80.0%)
2008	10	#7958	+1 (11.1%)
2007	9	#8515	-10 (-52.6%)
2006	19	#4769	+1 (5.6%)
2005	18	#4714	+5 (38.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jebediah a boy's or girl's name?

Jebediah is primarily a boy's name.

When was Jebediah most popular?

Jebediah reached its peak popularity in 2016 with 29 births that year. It is currently ranked #4352 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Jebediah?

Jebediah is currently ranked #4352 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 737 babies since 1973.

Explore More

By Length8-letter names By OriginHebrew names By EndingNames in -h TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1973–2024