Is Gideon a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Gideon is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Gideon?

It’s currently ranked #311 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Gideon?

GID-ee-uhn · IPA: //ˈɡɪdiən//

Gideon Boy

Popularity: #311 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationGID-ee-uhn / /ˈɡɪdiən/

Hebrew

Meaning

hewer; one who cuts trees

Historical & Cultural Background

Gideon is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical figure Gideon, a judge and military leader in the Book of Judges. The name has been used in various cultures and languages, often associated with strength and leadership. In Jewish tradition, Gideon is celebrated for his faith and bravery in battle. The name has seen varying levels of popularity over the centuries, particularly in religious communities.

Trend Summary

Gideon has experienced a resurgence in popularity in the United States, particularly in the 21st century.

Similar Names

Gareth Gio Gino Giorgio

Variants

Gide
Giddy

International Variants

Gideon (English)
Gideão (Portuguese)
Gideon (Dutch)

Famous people named Gideon

Gideon Welles was an American politician who served as Secretary of the Navy under President Abraham Lincoln.

Gideon Sundback was a Swedish-American engineer known for inventing the modern zipper.

Gideon Rachman is a British journalist and author, recognized for his work as the chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times.

Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist known for his critical views on Israeli policies regarding the Palestinian territories.

Fictional characters named Gideon

Gideon Grey is a character in the Disney movie Zootopia, known as a con artist and antagonist.

Gideon in the TV series Supernatural is a powerful demon who plays a significant role in the storyline.

Sibling Suggestions

Gabriel Gavin Grayson Gideon Graham Galen

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gideon was first seen in the United States in 1880. Gideon has ranked as high as #545 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. In the past 5 years the name Gideon has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Gideon (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	88	9%
CA	57	6%
PA	53	5%
OH	47	5%
MI	47	5%
FL	44	4%
MO	43	4%
TN	40	4%
IN	40	4%
NY	37	4%
NC	36	4%
WA	35	4%
IL	31	3%
VA	27	3%
MN	26	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	10
1881	7
1882	6
1883	5
1884	9
1885	13
1886	10
1887	8
1888	13
1890	7
1891	5
1892	6
1899	6
1900	11
1901	5
1906	7
1907	6
1909	11
1910	8
1912	14
1913	19
1914	22
1915	16
1916	23
1917	40
1918	17
1919	26
1920	28
1921	25
1922	18
1923	29
1924	24
1925	14
1926	18
1927	26
1928	15
1929	29
1930	14
1931	13
1932	10
1933	6
1934	10
1935	9
1936	12
1937	16
1938	11
1939	14
1940	12
1941	8
1942	16
1943	11
1944	8
1945	9
1946	19
1947	17
1948	12
1949	8
1950	17
1951	17
1952	11
1953	15
1954	14
1955	20
1956	20
1957	14
1958	12
1959	20
1960	15
1961	13
1962	23
1963	26
1964	15
1965	17
1966	21
1967	17
1968	22
1969	38
1970	26
1971	37
1972	43
1973	36
1974	44
1975	49
1976	42
1977	42
1978	37
1979	46
1980	83
1981	67
1982	77
1983	48
1984	60
1985	51
1986	60
1987	80
1988	78
1989	99
1990	78
1991	95
1992	82
1993	107
1994	101
1995	137
1996	112
1997	121
1998	122
1999	135
2000	180
2001	257
2002	226
2003	290
2004	290
2005	304
2006	433
2007	489
2008	504
2009	485
2010	576
2011	689
2012	765
2013	846
2014	944
2015	1,055
2016	1,034
2017	1,161
2018	1,108
2019	1,042
2020	1,031
2021	1,081
2022	1,024
2023	1,047
2024	1,042