Jethro Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Jethro has Hebrew origins, meaning 'excellence' or 'abundance'. It evolved from Yitro in Hebrew to Jethro in English. The name is associated with wisdom and biblical significance, particularly through the character of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. While not widely used today, it carries a positive image, and notable figures with this name include Jethro Tull and Jethro Bodine.
The name Jethro is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest 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, Jethro has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling 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, 'Jethro' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1277th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1602nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1740th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2538th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3144th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2974th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1297th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Jethro' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jethro"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɛθroʊ/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Jethro is derived from the Hebrew name Yitro, which means 'excellence' or 'abundance'. In the Bible, Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses.
Meaning
excellence, abundance
Language Evolution
Yitro (Hebrew), Jethro (English)
Biblical Background
Jethro is a significant figure in the Bible, known for his wisdom and as a priest of Midian. He provided counsel to Moses regarding the governance of the Israelites.
Historical Usage
The name Jethro has been used since biblical times and gained popularity in the Christian tradition as a result of its association with the Old Testament.
Variants & Derivatives
Yitro, Jethrae
Modern Popularity & Image
Jethro is relatively uncommon as a modern name but is often viewed positively due to its biblical roots and associations with wisdom and leadership.
Famous People
Jethro Tull (famous British musician and founder of the band), Jethro Bodine (fictional character from 'The Beverly Hillbillies')
Explore More Jethro Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jethro"
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 "Jethro"
"Jethro" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1277th of 7545 | 511 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1602nd of 6773 | 352 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1740th of 7552 | 385 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2538th of 10718 | 237 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3144th of 16616 | 288 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2974th of 24088 | 555 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1297th of 23106 | 1,730 |
Regional Popularity of "Jethro" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
40.66% 962nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
66.60% 1567th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- |
63.97% 1825th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
57.34% 2319th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
56.72% 2946th/5194 |
52.49% 3316th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
45.12% 2330th/5164 |
53.40% 3905th/7313 |
33.24% 2481st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
28.71% 1144th/3984 |
26.65% 1196th/4487 |
24.49% 1671st/6822 |
18.82% 1181st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jethro" 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 "Jethro"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jethro" 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.