Home › Baby Names Directory › Jericho

Jericho

♂ Boy

Pronounced JAIR-ih-koh /ˈdʒɛr.ɪ.koʊ/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Yericho, possibly derived from yareach (moon) reflecting the city's ancient association with moon worship, or from the Canaanite word reah meaning fragrance or sweet smellHigh

In 30 seconds: Jericho is the name of one of the world's oldest cities, derived from Hebrew meaning city of the moon or place of fragrance, famous in the Bible as the city whose walls fell to Joshua's trumpets, and increasingly used as a bold given name.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighHebrew, Greek
MeaningFrom Hebrew Yericho, possibly derived from yareach (moon) reflecting the city's ancient association with moon worship, or from the Canaanite word reah meaning fragrance or sweet smell
U.S. rank (2025)#886 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births269 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,973

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519702025

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

History & Origin

Jericho derives from Hebrew Yericho, which scholars connect either to yareach (moon) — reflecting the city's ancient identification with a moon deity — or to a Canaanite root meaning fragrance or sweet smell. The city of Jericho appears throughout the Hebrew Bible: most famously in the Book of Joshua, where the Israelites march around it for seven days and its walls collapse at the sound of trumpets and shouting (Joshua 6). This story made Jericho one of the most resonant place names in biblical literature.

As a given name, Jericho is a modern adoption of this biblical place name, following the trend for using ancient Middle Eastern toponyms as masculine given names — alongside Zion, Canaan, Eden, and Salem. It appeared in U.S. birth records in growing numbers in the 2000s and 2010s and has been used in film, television, and fiction (the CBS series Jericho aired 2006–2008). Its three-syllable flow and strong biblical associations appeal to parents who want something weighty and distinctive.

Did you know? Jericho (modern Tell es-Sultan in the West Bank) is widely considered one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with archaeological evidence of settlement going back at least 11,000 years — making it a name connected to the very dawn of human civilization.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Jericho — etymology and usageJoshua 6 (Hebrew Bible) — primary biblical source

Variations

JerikoYericho

Nicknames

JeriRicoJer

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jericho…

Zion— biblical place name used as a masculine given name with similar faith-culture resonance
Canaan— Old Testament geographic name adopted as a given name with comparable ancient weight
Caspian— three-syllable geographic name used as a boys name with the same adventurous, literary feel
Obadiah— long, weighty Old Testament name sharing Jericho's bold, rare biblical character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jericho mean?

Jericho comes from Hebrew Yericho, meaning city of the moon or place of fragrance — referring to the ancient Canaanite city.

How do you pronounce Jericho?

It is said JAIR-ih-koh — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jericho a biblical name?

Yes, Jericho is the city in Joshua 6 whose walls fell at the sound of the Israelite trumpets — one of the most famous stories in the Old Testament.

Is Jericho a popular boys name?

Jericho has grown steadily in U.S. birth records since the 2000s, appealing to parents who want a strong biblical place name.