Jesse
Girl name · #2459 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Jesse? In official American birth records, Jesse has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 72 baby girls were named Jesse, placing it at #2459 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2646, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,000 girls born in 2025 was named Jesse.
The 145-year story
Jesse first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1981, when 380 girls were named Jesse — good for #517 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Jesse per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jesse against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jesse in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jesse is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jesse will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jesse is most common
State-level data for Jesse is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Jesse
Statistically, parents drawn to Jesse tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jessi, Kayce, Lacie, Alyse, and Jacklyn.
JessiKayceLacieAlyseJacklynKassieJustineJanna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jesse | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72 | #2458 |
| 2024 | 73 | #2462 |
| 2023 | 72 | #2466 |
| 2022 | 52 | #3123 |
| 2021 | 69 | #2533 |
| 2020 | 65 | #2597 |
| 2019 | 59 | #2814 |
| 2018 | 82 | #2238 |
| 2017 | 76 | #2384 |
| 2016 | 67 | #2617 |
| 2015 | 67 | #2646 |
| 2014 | 73 | #2469 |
| 2013 | 70 | #2533 |
| 2012 | 80 | #2336 |
| 2011 | 81 | #2298 |
| 2010 | 108 | #1873 |
| 2009 | 108 | #1934 |
| 2008 | 120 | #1808 |
| 2007 | 117 | #1815 |
| 2006 | 122 | #1709 |
| 2005 | 173 | #1290 |
| 2004 | 181 | #1225 |
| 2003 | 172 | #1227 |
| 2002 | 190 | #1107 |
| 2001 | 195 | #1087 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jesse?
In official American birth records, the name Jesse first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Jesse a popular girl name?
Jesse ranked #2459 among girls in 2025 with 72 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2646.
When was the name Jesse most popular?
Jesse peaked in 1981, when 380 American girls received the name (ranked #517 that year). Since 1981 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jesse?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,000 newborn American girls was named Jesse. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.