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Gershon
Pronounced GUR-shon /ΛΙ‘Ιr.ΚoΚn/High
Meaning: Sojourner, stranger there; the name of Levi's firstborn son, ancestor of the Gershonite LevitesMedium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Gershon was the firstborn of Levi in Genesis, ancestor of the Gershonite division of Levites; the name is traditionally tied to ger, 'stranger, sojourner' β 'a stranger there' β echoing Moses' own son Gershom, named in exile. It has remained in continuous Jewish use for three millennia.
Ashkenazi history decorates it through figures like Rabbeinu Gershom, the medieval 'Light of the Exile' whose decrees shaped European Jewish life. In the U.S. the name lives chiefly in Orthodox communities and remains rare beyond them.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
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Gershon Kingsley (1922-2019)German-American composer and electronic music pioneer
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Gershon Iskowitz (1919-1988)Polish-Canadian painter
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Gershon mean?
Gershon is traditionally tied to Hebrew ger, 'stranger, sojourner' β 'a sojourner there' β the name of Levi's firstborn son.
How do you pronounce Gershon?
It's said GUR-shon /ΛΙ‘Ιr.ΚoΚn/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Gershon a boy or girl name?
Gershon is a boy's name.
How popular is Gershon?
Gershon is rare nationally and steady within Orthodox Jewish communities.