Jethro

Jethro - A very unique male name

Jethro appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #643. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Jethro and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Jethro? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Jethro. The baby boy name Jethro was given to 183 baby boys in 2025, ranking #992 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,012 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Jethro peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 643.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Jethro, 1-5?

Jethro is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Jethro is currently topping the baby name charts in Kansas at position #412 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,653.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Jethro is where you live.

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Jethro origin and meaning

Hebrew — Yitro, from the Bible

Often explained as 'excellence' or 'abundance', from a Hebrew root meaning to excel or remain over

Jethro is the father-in-law of Moses in the Book of Exodus, a Midianite priest who advises Moses. The name stayed rare for centuries, with a rural American flavour, and is now at its highest use in the data.

Attested etymology

Jethro is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Jethro, pop culture references for the name Jethro and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Jethro

We've found the following names that sound similar to Jethro, sorted by popularity.

Jeter / Jeyder /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Jethro

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Jethro a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Jethro?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

JETH-roh · /ˈdʒɛθroʊ/

Around the world

• Yitro (Hebrew) — The original biblical form.

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: JethJet

Famous bearers

• Jethro — Father-in-law of Moses in the Book of Exodus (Biblical) Historical
• Leroy Jethro Gibbs — Lead character in the television series NCIS (Fictional, 2003) Fictional

Style

BiblicalVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Jethro for its biblical roots and its friendly, unhurried country sound. It is having its best year yet while still feeling distinctive.

Worth knowing

• Some people associate it with the 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies and Jethro Bodine.
• The rock band Jethro Tull is a band name taken from a historical agriculturist's name, not a person called Jethro as a first name in the band.