Fun Facts About the Name Jethro
- More than 4 thousand babies named Jethro: U.S. records list 4,322 babies given the name Jethro from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Jethro Mean?
Jethro is the English form of the Hebrew name Yitro (יִתְרוֹ), the name of Moses' father-in-law, a priest of Midian. The name is built from the Hebrew root y-t-r, which has the sense of "to remain," "to be left over," or "to exceed," and from the noun yeter (יֶתֶר), meaning "remainder," "surplus," or "abundance." With the ending -o, a possessive suffix meaning "his," the name is usually understood as "his abundance" or "his excellence," and by extension "preeminence." Reference works often give the shorter sense "abundance" or "excellence."
Jethro Name History & Origins
The Hebrew Yitro passed into Greek as Ιοθόρ (Iothor) in the Septuagint and then into the Latin Vulgate as Iethro, which is the direct source of the English spelling. In the biblical narrative Jethro is the Midianite priest whose daughter Zipporah marries Moses, and who advises Moses to appoint judges to share the burden of leading Israel (Exodus 18). The same figure is also called Reuel in the text, and the relationship among the names Jethro, Reuel, and Hobab has long been discussed without a settled answer.
The Reformation's emphasis on the Old Testament brought many Hebrew biblical names into use among English Protestants, and Jethro appears as a given name in England from the 17th century onward, though it never became common. A well-known later bearer is the English agriculturist Jethro Tull (1674 - 1741), an early promoter of the seed drill; the rock band Jethro Tull took its name from him. The name also appears in modern fiction, such as the character Jethro Bodine in the television comedy The Beverly Hillbillies. These are individual uses rather than evidence about the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Jethro?
Jethro recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #903 in 1899.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #953 | 245 | 0.0143% |
| 2024 | #1,078 | 201 | 0.0117% |
| 2023 | #1,117 | 189 | 0.0111% |
| 2022 | #1,148 | 181 | 0.0104% |
| 2021 | #1,238 | 155 | 0.0089% |
| 2020 | #1,302 | 139 | 0.0081% |
| 2019 | #1,246 | 151 | 0.0084% |
| 2018 | #1,194 | 159 | 0.0088% |
| 2017 | #1,463 | 116 | 0.0063% |
| 2016 | #1,319 | 137 | 0.0072% |
| 2015 | #1,486 | 112 | 0.0058% |
| 2014 | #1,556 | 103 | 0.0054% |
| 2013 | #1,700 | 87 | 0.0046% |
| 2012 | #1,915 | 75 | 0.0040% |
| 2011 | #1,914 | 73 | 0.0038% |
| 2010 | #2,081 | 65 | 0.0034% |
| 2009 | #2,175 | 62 | 0.0031% |
| 2008 | #3,596 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2007 | #3,406 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 2006 | #3,415 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #3,667 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2004 | #3,935 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2003 | #4,919 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #3,305 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2001 | #4,372 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #3,699 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1999 | #3,641 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #3,645 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #4,555 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #3,916 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #4,153 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1994 | #3,392 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #3,198 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1992 | #3,059 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #3,535 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #3,523 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #3,526 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #2,800 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1987 | #3,129 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #2,324 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1985 | #2,774 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #3,566 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #2,449 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #3,579 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #2,376 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1980 | #2,483 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #2,507 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #2,523 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1977 | #2,507 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1976 | #2,373 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #2,988 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #1,955 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1973 | #2,650 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1972 | #2,284 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #2,622 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #2,444 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,773 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,989 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #3,106 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #3,111 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #2,541 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #2,956 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #2,949 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #1,924 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1961 | #2,475 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #2,478 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #2,351 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #1,519 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1957 | #1,531 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #1,663 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1955 | #1,661 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1954 | #1,542 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #1,444 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1952 | #1,568 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #1,506 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #1,450 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1949 | #1,239 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1948 | #1,443 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1947 | #1,880 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #2,801 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #1,472 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1944 | #1,552 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1943 | #1,609 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1942 | #1,512 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,555 | 20 | 0.0016% |
| 1940 | #1,544 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,759 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1938 | #2,260 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #1,872 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1936 | #1,613 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1935 | #1,519 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1934 | #1,371 | 25 | 0.0024% |
| 1933 | #1,478 | 22 | 0.0022% |
| 1932 | #1,532 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1931 | #1,439 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #1,672 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1929 | #2,052 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1928 | #1,734 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1927 | #1,423 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1926 | #1,203 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1925 | #1,344 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1924 | #1,278 | 33 | 0.0029% |
| 1923 | #1,051 | 46 | 0.0042% |
| 1922 | #1,614 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1921 | #1,282 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1920 | #1,290 | 32 | 0.0030% |
| 1919 | #1,177 | 36 | 0.0037% |
| 1918 | #1,426 | 26 | 0.0026% |
| 1917 | #1,209 | 32 | 0.0035% |
| 1916 | #1,621 | 20 | 0.0022% |
| 1915 | #1,580 | 20 | 0.0024% |
| 1914 | #1,145 | 26 | 0.0040% |
| 1913 | #922 | 29 | 0.0057% |
| 1912 | #1,120 | 18 | 0.0042% |
| 1911 | #1,013 | 12 | 0.0053% |
| 1910 | #1,081 | 10 | 0.0051% |
| 1909 | #1,576 | 5 | 0.0030% |
| 1908 | #1,503 | 5 | 0.0032% |
| 1907 | #1,263 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1904 | #1,299 | 5 | 0.0039% |
| 1900 | #1,107 | 7 | 0.0047% |
| 1899 | #903 | 7 | 0.0066% |
| 1893 | #1,120 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Jethro Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Jethro's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jethro's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.