Jesse is a moderately popular boys' name in United States, ranking #199 in 2019 with 1,978 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 7,075 births ranking #51. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 72.0%. In 2019, approximately 1 in every 907 boys born was named Jesse. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Jesse is a Hebrew biblical name usually explained as meaning "gift". It has a warm, friendly sound and has stayed comfortably familiar for generations.
The name is known from the father of King David in the Bible and later became an enduring choice in English-speaking naming. It feels scriptural without sounding formal or weighty.