Jedediah Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jedediah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'beloved of the Lord.' It evolved from the biblical name Yedidyahu and has historical forms in English. The name is associated with positive traits such as loyalty and love, and it has biblical relevance as it was given to King Solomon. While its popularity has waned in modern times, it retains a sense of tradition and strength.
The name Jedediah is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jedediah has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Jedediah' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1055th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1232nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3252nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2421st out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Jedediah' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jedediah"
Pronunciation
/ˌdʒɛdəˈaɪə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Jedediah is derived from the Hebrew name יְדִידְיָהוּ (Yedidyahu), which means 'beloved of the Lord.' It is composed of the elements 'yad' meaning 'hand' and 'yah' referring to God.
Meaning
beloved of the Lord
Language Evolution
Yedidyahu (Hebrew), Jedediah (English)
Biblical Background
Jedediah is a biblical name found in the Old Testament. It was given to Solomon by the prophet Nathan, reflecting God's love for him.
Historical Usage
The name Jedediah gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 17th century, particularly among Puritan families who valued biblical names.
Variants & Derivatives
Jediah, Jed, Diah
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Jedediah is less common but is sometimes viewed as a traditional and strong name, often associated with a sense of heritage and biblical significance.
Famous People
Jedediah Smith, an American frontiersman and explorer, Jedediah S. Smith, a prominent figure in the history of the American West
Explore More Jedediah Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jedediah"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jedediah"
"Jedediah" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1055th of 10718 | 942 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1232nd of 16616 | 1,161 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3252nd of 24088 | 486 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2421st of 23106 | 664 |
Regional Popularity of "Jedediah" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
28.84% 847th/2937 |
34.86% 1214th/3483 |
50.88% 1790th/3518 |
16.17% 654th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
36.61% 1349th/3685 |
39.20% 1754th/4475 |
43.30% 2249th/5194 |
15.40% 973rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
60.11% 4396th/7313 |
39.58% 2954th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
75.30% 3000th/3984 |
83.98% 3768th/4487 |
43.23% 2949th/6822 |
32.01% 2009th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jedediah" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jedediah"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jedediah" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.