Jethro
Jethro was the 953rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 245 babies. Its best year was 1899, when it ranked 903rd; the most babies were born in 2025 (245). Over the last ten years it has moved up 533 places. More babies were named Jethro in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning his abundance · Hebrew
Say it JETH-roh /ˈdʒɛθroʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #953 boys, up 349 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 245boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025245 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,325babies recorded
What does the name Jethro mean?
Jethro is the English form of Yitro (יִתְרוֹ), the Midianite priest who became Moses' father-in-law in the Book of Exodus. Wiktionary explains it as yeter 'abundance, surplus' with the suffix -o 'his', so 'his abundance'; Exodus 4:18 also calls him by the shorter form Yeter. The name reached English through Latin Iethro and was already known in Old English.
יִתְרוֹ (Biblical Hebrew, “his abundance”)יֶתֶר (Biblical Hebrew, “abundance, surplus”)
How sure is this? Probable.
Related names: Yitro, Jett.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jethro', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'יתרו' (Hebrew section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Hebrew Bible, Exodus 4:18, Hebrew text with JPS translation (via Sefaria), Sefaria
Jethro popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #953 | 245 |
| 2020 | #1,302 | 139 |
| 2010 | #2,081 | 65 |
| 2000 | #3,699 | 22 |
| 1990 | #3,523 | 17 |
| 1980 | #2,483 | 20 |
| 1970 | #2,443 | 15 |
| 1960 | #2,476 | 12 |
| 1950 | #1,450 | 26 |
| 1940 | #1,544 | 20 |
| 1930 | #1,672 | 20 |
| 1920 | #1,290 | 32 |
| 1910 | #1,081 | 10 |
| 1900 | #1,107 | 7 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Jethro, counting every spelling?
Jethro has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #918 for boys in 2025, against #953 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Jethro?
245 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Jethro (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Jethro 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 34 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Jethro.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Jethro?
About 3,300 people born in the US named Jethro are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 5 and 28. That makes Jethro a young name: most people with it are children.
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.
Jethro by state
How common Jethro was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Wisconsin (2.2×), Indiana (2.2×), Pennsylvania (2.0×), Washington (1.8×), Colorado (1.6×). In 23 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 Jethro: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jethro, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Jethro · Sibling names for Jethro
Questions about the name Jethro
What does Jethro mean?
Jethro means “his abundance” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Jethro?
Jethro was the 953rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 245 babies. Its best year was 1899, when it ranked 903rd; the most babies were born in 2025 (245). Over the last ten years it has moved up 533 places. More babies were named Jethro in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Jethro a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Jethro in the US.
Where is Jethro most popular?
In 2021–2025, Jethro was most common in Wisconsin (0.24 per 1,000 boys), followed by Indiana and Pennsylvania.