Home › Baby Names Directory › Jareth

Jareth

♂ Boy

Pronounced JAR-uhth /ˈd͡ʒæɹ.əθ/Medium

Meaning: DescentMedium

In 30 seconds: Jareth is a name from popular culture, given the meaning 'descent.' It is best known as the Goblin King in the 1986 film Labyrinth.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumPopular Culture
MeaningDescent
U.S. rank (2024)#1806 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births90 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,992

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419862024

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

History & Origin

Jareth surfaced through popular culture rather than older tradition, and is listed with the meaning 'descent.' Its fame rests almost entirely on the character Jareth, the Goblin King played by David Bowie in the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth.

The name's theatrical -eth ending gives it a dramatic, slightly otherworldly ring well suited to its fictional source. For many, hearing Jareth calls Bowie's role straight to mind.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Jareth is 'descent', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Jareth — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

—

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jareth (fictional)
    The Goblin King in the 1986 musical fantasy film Labyrinth, famously portrayed by David Bowie.

If you like Jareth…

Gareth— the older name Jareth most closely echoes in sound
Jared— shares Jareth's Jar- opening and a similar feel
Jarrett— matches Jareth's rhythm and Jar- beginning
Bowie— tied to Jareth through David Bowie, who played the character
Everett— shares the dramatic -ett/-eth ending sound of Jareth

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jareth mean?

Jareth is usually explained as meaning 'descent' and is most often linked with Popular Culture tradition.

How do you pronounce Jareth?

It's commonly said JAR-uhth /ˈd͡ʒæɹ.əθ/.

Is Jareth a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Jareth is used as a boy name.

How popular is Jareth?

In 2024, Jareth ranked #1806 in the U.S. for boys, with 90 births recorded.