Jed Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JED //dʒɛd//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: 'beloved of the Lord'; English: diminutive of Jedediah
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jed is derived from the Hebrew name יְדִידְיָה (Yedidyah), which means "beloved of the Lord." This name appears in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of King David, who named his son Solomon Jedidiah as a sign of divine favor. The name transitioned into Greek as Ἰεδιδίας (Iedidias) and later into Latin, maintaining its biblical significance.
The name was eventually adopted into Old French and Middle English, where it became more accessible to English speakers, particularly during the medieval period when biblical names gained prominence in Christian communities. Historically, the name Jed has been associated with various figures in religious texts and literature.
The use of Jedidiah in the Bible, particularly in the context of Solomon, has contributed to its enduring presence in Judeo-Christian traditions. The King James Bible, published in the early 17th century, helped solidify the name's recognition in English-speaking cultures, ensuring its continued relevance through religious and literary references.
The name's biblical roots have fostered a sense of spiritual significance, often associated with divine love and favor. Culturally, the name Jed has resonated through various narratives and traditions, symbolizing loyalty and devotion.
Its connection to the biblical figure of Solomon, who is often associated with wisdom and prosperity, has further enriched its cultural resonance. Additionally, the diminutive form "Jed" has emerged as a more informal and approachable variant, reflecting a trend in naming practices where shorter forms of traditional names gain familiarity.
Overall, the name Jed encapsulates a rich tapestry of historical, linguistic, and cultural significance, rooted deeply in its biblical origins.
Famous people named Jed
In this section, you will find notable people named Jed. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jed who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jed who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Jed Apatow is a producer and director best known for The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and This Is 40.
Jed Hoyer is a baseball executive best known for his role as the general manager of the Chicago Cubs.
Jed Lowrie is a professional baseball player best known for his time with the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros.
Jed McCaleb is a programmer and entrepreneur best known for co-founding Ripple and Mt. Gox.
Fictional characters named Jed
The following list of fictional characters named Jed 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.
Jed is a fictional character from the TV series The X-Files. He is a recurring character who serves as an informant and ally to the main protagonists, Mulder and Scully.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jed, 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 Jed. 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 Jed was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Jed has ranked as high as #822 nationally, which occurred in 1978, and has been most popular in New York, California, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
In the past 5 years the name Jed has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jed 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 Jed was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jed (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 | |
| TN | 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 Jed.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 78 |
| 2023 | 92 |
| 2022 | 72 |
| 2021 | 82 |
| 2020 | 96 |
| 2019 | 69 |
| 2018 | 56 |
| 2017 | 78 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2015 | 76 |
| 2014 | 76 |
| 2013 | 67 |
| 2012 | 63 |
| 2011 | 85 |
| 2010 | 59 |
| 2009 | 72 |
| 2008 | 60 |
| 2007 | 57 |
| 2006 | 70 |
| 2005 | 79 |
| 2004 | 65 |
| 2003 | 92 |
| 2002 | 71 |
| 2001 | 80 |
| 2000 | 70 |
| 1999 | 57 |
| 1998 | 86 |
| 1997 | 78 |
| 1996 | 80 |
| 1995 | 83 |
| 1994 | 88 |
| 1993 | 86 |
| 1992 | 85 |
| 1991 | 75 |
| 1990 | 94 |
| 1989 | 125 |
| 1988 | 119 |
| 1987 | 129 |
| 1986 | 131 |
| 1985 | 145 |
| 1984 | 151 |
| 1983 | 172 |
| 1982 | 164 |
| 1981 | 227 |
| 1980 | 217 |
| 1979 | 219 |
| 1978 | 281 |
| 1977 | 241 |
| 1976 | 219 |
| 1975 | 214 |
| 1974 | 235 |
| 1973 | 155 |
| 1972 | 131 |
| 1971 | 143 |
| 1970 | 112 |
| 1969 | 105 |
| 1968 | 89 |
| 1967 | 68 |
| 1966 | 68 |
| 1965 | 66 |
| 1964 | 82 |
| 1963 | 95 |
| 1962 | 168 |
| 1961 | 184 |
| 1960 | 139 |
| 1959 | 128 |
| 1958 | 144 |
| 1957 | 120 |
| 1956 | 141 |
| 1955 | 136 |
| 1954 | 130 |
| 1953 | 102 |
| 1952 | 65 |
| 1951 | 65 |
| 1950 | 53 |
| 1949 | 57 |
| 1948 | 54 |
| 1947 | 53 |
| 1946 | 23 |
| 1945 | 21 |
| 1944 | 19 |
| 1943 | 24 |
| 1942 | 19 |
| 1941 | 18 |
| 1940 | 11 |
| 1939 | 20 |
| 1938 | 18 |
| 1937 | 13 |
| 1936 | 13 |
| 1935 | 10 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1933 | 15 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1931 | 14 |
| 1930 | 13 |
| 1929 | 11 |
| 1928 | 12 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 9 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1922 | 5 |
| 1920 | 9 |
| 1919 | 11 |
| 1918 | 9 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1913 | 5 |