Jericho
Jericho was the 886th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 269 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 884th; the most babies were born in 2025 (269). Over the last ten years it has moved up 117 places. More babies were named Jericho in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Hebrew
Say it JAIR-ih-koh /ˈdʒɛrɪˌkoʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #886 boys, up 111 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 269boys
- Girls and boys
- 6% girls, 94% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025269 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,357babies recorded
What does the name Jericho mean?
Jericho is the ancient city near the Jordan River, famous from the Bible's story of its walls falling to Joshua. Wiktionary traces the English name through Latin and Greek to Hebrew Yeriho. Wikipedia reports that the name is usually derived from a Canaanite word meaning "fragrant", while others link it with the word for moon or with the moon god Yarikh. As a boys' name it is a place name, chosen mainly for its biblical associations.
יְרִיחוֹ (Hebrew, “Jericho”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The meaning of the city's name is not settled: 'fragrant' or a link with the moon.
See also: Hebrew names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jericho', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Jericho', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Jericho (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Hebrew Bible, Joshua 6:1, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
Jericho popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,008 | #886 | 20 | 269 |
| 2020 | #11,538 | #997 | 8 | 214 |
| 2010 | — | #1,122 | — | 168 |
| 2000 | #12,366 | #1,169 | 7 | 118 |
| 1990 | #6,626 | #1,425 | 13 | 62 |
| 1980 | #2,951 | #1,929 | 30 | 29 |
| 1970 | — | #5,063 | — | 5 |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Jericho, counting every spelling?
Jericho has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #859 for boys in 2025, against #886 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Jericho?
269 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Jericho (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Jericho born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 31 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Jericho.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Jericho?
About 5,900 people born in the US named Jericho are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 6 and 23. That makes Jericho mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Jericho by state
How common Jericho was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Oklahoma (2.3×), Indiana (1.7×), Tennessee (1.6×), Colorado (1.6×), Washington (1.6×). In 21 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Jericho: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jericho, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Jericho · Sibling names for Jericho
Questions about the name Jericho
What does Jericho mean?
The origin of Jericho is uncertain: the meaning of the city's name is not settled: 'fragrant' or a link with the moon.
How popular is the name Jericho?
Jericho was the 886th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 269 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 884th; the most babies were born in 2025 (269). Over the last ten years it has moved up 117 places. More babies were named Jericho in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Jericho a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 6% girls, 94% boys given the name Jericho in the US.
Where is Jericho most popular?
In 2021–2025, Jericho was most common in Oklahoma (0.35 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nevada and New Mexico.