Jebediah Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEB-uh-dye-uh //ˌdʒɛb.əˈdaɪ.ə//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Hebrew: beloved friend; English: variant of Jedediah
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jebediah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the name יְהוֹבֵדְיָה (Yehovedyah), which translates to "beloved of the Lord." This name is a compound of two elements: "yeho," a form of the divine name Yahweh, and "diah," meaning "to love" or "beloved." The name entered the English language through the Greek transliteration of Hebrew names and subsequently through Latin, where it was adapted into forms such as Jebediah or Jebediah, before being incorporated into Middle English. Historically, Jebediah is associated with a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament.
Specifically, Jebediah is recognized as the name given to Solomon's son, originally named Jedidiah, in the second book of Samuel, around the 10th century BCE. The name appears in various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version published in 1611, which helped to solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures.
The biblical context lends the name a significant religious and cultural weight, often associated with themes of divine favor and love. Culturally, Jebediah carries connotations of loyalty and devotion, reflecting its etymological roots.
The name has been embraced in various literary and artistic works, often symbolizing steadfastness and faith. While diminutive forms such as Jeb or Jed may be used informally, the full name Jebediah retains a formal and historical resonance, evoking the rich tapestry of biblical narratives and the enduring legacy of names that reflect a connection to the divine.
Fictional characters named Jebediah
The following list of fictional characters named Jebediah is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Jebediah Springfield is a fictional character from the animated television series The Simpsons. He is the legendary founder of the town of Springfield and often serves as a satirical representation of American history and culture.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jebediah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jebediah. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jebediah was first seen in the United States in 1973.
Jebediah has ranked as high as #1394 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in California, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Jebediah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jebediah is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jebediah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jebediah (2015)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jebediah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2016 | 29 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 10 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 13 |
| 1982 | 11 |
| 1981 | 14 |
| 1980 | 18 |
| 1979 | 22 |
| 1978 | 23 |
| 1977 | 21 |
| 1976 | 13 |
| 1975 | 8 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1973 | 7 |