UK boy's name
Jessiah
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift of Jehovah".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jessiah is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jessiah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2000 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Jessiah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jessiah ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 4 boys were registered as Jessiah.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jessiah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Jessiah mean?
The name Jessiah is believed to have originated from the Hebrew name Yishai, which means "gift of God" or "God exists." This name can be traced back to the Old Testament, where it was the name of King David's father. The earliest known spelling of the name was Yishai, which later evolved into various forms, including Yeshai, Jesse, and ultimately, Jessiah.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Jessiah can be found in the Bible's Book of Samuel, where it refers to the father of King David. Although the name Jessiah is not directly mentioned in the text, it is derived from the same root as Yishai, indicating a strong biblical connection.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Jessiah. One of the earliest recorded instances is Jessiah Donaldson (1604-1685), an English Puritan minister who served as a pastor in various congregations in New England during the 17th century.
Another prominent figure was Jessiah Weston (1672-1746), a British merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the establishment of charitable institutions in London. His legacy includes the founding of the Weston's Charity School, which provided education to underprivileged children.
In the 19th century, Jessiah Wilkinson (1801-1878) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style. His most famous work is the St. John's Church in Leeds, which is considered a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture.
Moving into the 20th century, Jessiah Nathaniel Coburn (1901-1985) was an American artist and sculptor known for his work in the Art Deco and Modernist styles. His sculptures and public art installations can be found in various cities across the United States.
Lastly, Jessiah Benson (1924-2002) was a prominent Australian Aboriginal activist and leader who played a pivotal role in the fight for indigenous rights and land rights in Australia. He was awarded the Order of Australia for his contributions to the Aboriginal community.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Jessiah throughout history, each leaving a lasting impact in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jessiah over time
The chart below shows babies named Jessiah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jessiah, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jessiah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jessiah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4331 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3036 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Jessiah
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jessiah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jessiah in the UK right now?
In 2019, Jessiah was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jessiah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 4 babies registered as Jessiah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jessiah?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift of Jehovah".
How many people are called Jessiah in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Jessiah across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.