Jesse

Meaning of Jesse

Jesse, born of the ancient Hebrew Yishai and translating to “gift” or “God exists,” drifts through history like the scent of basil on a warm Roman breeze: subtle yet unmistakable. He first steps onto the stage in the Book of Samuel as the humble father of King David, and from that olive-rooted lineage blossoms the medieval “Tree of Jesse,” a symbol still painted across cathedral apses from Florence to Assisi, reminding pilgrims that greatness often springs from quiet soil. Over centuries the name has wandered far beyond Scripture—saddling up with the legendary outlaw Jesse James, sprinting down Olympic lanes beside Jesse Owens, and strumming through John Denver’s gentle ballad “Sweet Jesse”—yet it never loses the soft, steady cadence of JES-ee, as easy on the ear as a mandolin in a moonlit piazza. To modern parents it offers a warm handshake between sacred tradition and easygoing charm, a name that can wear cowboy boots, running spikes, or Sunday best with equal grace, and—like a perfectly twirled forkful of spaghetti—leaves a pleasant smile long after it’s spoken.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as JES-ee (/dʒɛsi/)