Jesus

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAY-soos /ˈheɪ.suːs/High

Meaning: God saves, Yahweh is salvation — Spanish form of Joshua/Yeshua, from Hebrew Yeshu'a (Yahweh is salvation)High

In 30 seconds: The Spanish form of Joshua/Yeshua, Jesus literally means 'God saves.' While rarely used as a given name in English-speaking countries outside of religious contexts, it is a top boys' name in the U.S. Hispanic community.

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Origin HighHebrew, Spanish

MeaningGod saves, Yahweh is salvation — Spanish form of Joshua/Yeshua, from Hebrew Yeshu'a (Yahweh is salvation)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 225,716

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Jesus is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Yeshua (Joshua in Hebrew), from the Aramaic/Hebrew Yehoshua, meaning 'Yahweh is salvation' or 'God saves.' The Greek transliteration Iēsous became the Latin Iesus and then English Jesus. While the name is used for Jesus Christ in English, in Spanish-speaking cultures naming children Jesús is a common and deeply meaningful devotional practice.

Jesús has been a top boys' name in Spanish-speaking countries for centuries. In the United States it has been a consistent presence in the top 100 boys' names, reflecting the size and faith traditions of the Hispanic community. The name is almost exclusively used within Hispanic naming culture in the U.S.

Did you know? In Latin American culture, naming a child Jesús after Jesus Christ is a devout expression of faith — a tradition stretching back to Spanish colonization. The name is pronounced 'hay-SOOS' in Spanish, distinct from the English pronunciation of the religious figure.

Variations

JesúsYeshuaJoshua

Nicknames

ChuyChuse

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jesus…

Angel— Spanish devotional name equally popular in U.S. Hispanic communities

Elias— Spanish/Biblical name with the same devout Hispanic naming tradition

Santiago— major Spanish devotional boys' name in the same tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jesus mean?

Jesus is the Spanish form of Yeshua/Joshua, from Hebrew Yehoshua meaning 'Yahweh is salvation' or 'God saves.'

How do you pronounce Jesus?

As a given name in Spanish, Jesus is pronounced HAY-soos /ˈheɪ.suːs/ — two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Jesus a boy or girl name?

Jesus is a boys' name.

How popular is Jesus?

Jesus has been a consistent U.S. top-100 boys' name for decades, predominantly within Hispanic communities.