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Jedidiah

♂ Boy

Pronounced jed-ih-DY-uh /ˌdʒɛd.ɪˈdaɪ.ə/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Yedidyah, composed of yedid meaning beloved or friend and Yah, a shortened form of YHWH (God); meaning beloved of God or friend of YahwehHigh

In 30 seconds: Jedidiah is a Hebrew biblical name meaning beloved of God, borne in the Old Testament as the secret name given by the prophet Nathan to King Solomon at his birth, signifying divine favor.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningFrom Hebrew Yedidyah, composed of yedid meaning beloved or friend and Yah, a shortened form of YHWH (God); meaning beloved of God or friend of Yahweh
U.S. rank (2025)#876 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births274 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,309

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719712025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Jedidiah comes from the Hebrew Yedidyah, combining yedid (beloved, friend) with the divine name Yah. In the Hebrew Bible (2 Samuel 12:25) Nathan the prophet gives this name to Solomon shortly after his birth, expressing God's love for the child. Despite its high biblical pedigree, the name remained uncommon through most of history. Puritan settlers in New England revived Old Testament names in the 17th century, and Jedidiah enjoyed modest use in colonial America, often shortened to the affectionate nickname Jed.

Jedidiah Morse (1761–1826), the American geographer and father of Samuel Morse (inventor of the telegraph), is among the best-known historical bearers. The name carries a rugged, frontier quality in American consciousness, partly through Western fiction and folk culture. In the 21st century, Jedidiah has seen renewed interest among parents who favor long, weighty biblical names — a trend driven by the same impulse behind Bartholomew, Thaddeus, and Obadiah. The short form Jed remains accessible and friendly.

Did you know? Jedidiah was the name given to Solomon by the prophet Nathan at God's command, as told in 2 Samuel 12:25, yet it appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, making it one of scripture's rarest given names.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Jedidiah — etymology and biblical reference2 Samuel 12:25 (Hebrew Bible) — primary biblical source

Variations

JedediahYedidyah

Nicknames

JedJedi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jedidiah Morse (1761–1826)
    American Congregationalist minister and geographer known as the Father of American Geography. He was the father of inventor Samuel F. B. Morse.
  • ★Jedediah Smith (1799–1831)
    American explorer and fur trader who was among the first Americans to cross the Sierra Nevada and travel overland to California.

If you like Jedidiah…

Jeremiah— long Hebrew biblical name ending in -iah with the same prophetic gravitas
Jedediah— near-identical variant form of the same Hebrew name with a doubled syllable
Obadiah— rare Old Testament -iah name sharing Jedidiah's rugged frontier American associations
Thaddeus— long, weighty biblical name with similar nickname potential and revival appeal

Frequently Asked

What does Jedidiah mean?

Jedidiah comes from Hebrew Yedidyah meaning beloved of God or friend of Yahweh.

How do you pronounce Jedidiah?

It is said jed-ih-DY-uh — four syllables with the stress on the third.

Is Jedidiah in the Bible?

Yes, in 2 Samuel 12:25 the prophet Nathan gives the newborn Solomon the name Jedidiah, meaning God loves him.

What is a nickname for Jedidiah?

The most common nickname is Jed; some children also go by Jedi.