Jesus

Meaning

Jesus ultimately comes through Greek from the Hebrew name Yeshua (or Yehoshua), meaning “Yahweh is salvation” or simply “Saviour.” In the excerpts, it is explicitly glossed as “Saviour” and noted as a name used for girls in Spain and boys in France. The name is of course most strongly identified with Jesus Christ, whose name was treated with special reverence in Christian naming traditions.

Origin

Fun fact

The excerpts note that Spanish families in America may still use Jesus quite often as a given name, reflecting its religious prestige.