Boy nameCurrently #331 in the USSteady
Gideon
GID-ee-un//ˈɡɪdiən//
3 syllablesPeak year: 20176 lettersStarts with G
Meaning & origin
Mighty warrior, feller of trees
Gideon comes from the Hebrew meaning 'mighty warrior' or 'one who cuts down', and belongs in the Book of Judges to a reluctant hero who leads Israel to victory with a small, faithful army. Its strong, biblical weight has made it an increasingly popular modern choice.
Gideon's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Gideon |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 10 |
| 1881 | 7 |
| 1882 | 6 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1884 | 9 |
| 1885 | 13 |
| 1886 | 10 |
| 1887 | 8 |
| 1888 | 13 |
| 1890 | 7 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1892 | 6 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1901 | 5 |
| 1906 | 7 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1909 | 11 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1912 | 14 |
| 1913 | 19 |
| 1914 | 22 |
| 1915 | 16 |
| 1916 | 23 |
| 1917 | 40 |
| 1918 | 17 |
| 1919 | 26 |
| 1920 | 28 |
| 1921 | 25 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1923 | 29 |
| 1924 | 24 |
| 1925 | 14 |
| 1926 | 18 |
| 1927 | 26 |
| 1928 | 15 |
| 1929 | 29 |
| 1930 | 14 |
| 1931 | 13 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1933 | 6 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1935 | 9 |
| 1936 | 12 |
| 1937 | 16 |
| 1938 | 11 |
| 1939 | 14 |
| 1940 | 12 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1942 | 16 |
| 1943 | 11 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1946 | 19 |
| 1947 | 17 |
| 1948 | 12 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1950 | 17 |
| 1951 | 17 |
| 1952 | 11 |
| 1953 | 15 |
| 1954 | 14 |
| 1955 | 20 |
| 1956 | 20 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1958 | 12 |
| 1959 | 20 |
| 1960 | 15 |
| 1961 | 13 |
| 1962 | 23 |
| 1963 | 26 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1965 | 17 |
| 1966 | 21 |
| 1967 | 17 |
| 1968 | 22 |
| 1969 | 38 |
| 1970 | 26 |
| 1971 | 37 |
| 1972 | 43 |
| 1973 | 36 |
| 1974 | 44 |
| 1975 | 49 |
| 1976 | 42 |
| 1977 | 42 |
| 1978 | 37 |
| 1979 | 46 |
| 1980 | 83 |
| 1981 | 67 |
| 1982 | 77 |
| 1983 | 48 |
| 1984 | 60 |
| 1985 | 51 |
| 1986 | 60 |
| 1987 | 80 |
| 1988 | 78 |
| 1989 | 99 |
| 1990 | 78 |
| 1991 | 95 |
| 1992 | 82 |
| 1993 | 107 |
| 1994 | 101 |
| 1995 | 137 |
| 1996 | 112 |
| 1997 | 121 |
| 1998 | 122 |
| 1999 | 135 |
| 2000 | 180 |
| 2001 | 257 |
| 2002 | 232 |
| 2003 | 290 |
| 2004 | 290 |
| 2005 | 304 |
| 2006 | 433 |
| 2007 | 489 |
| 2008 | 504 |
| 2009 | 485 |
| 2010 | 576 |
| 2011 | 694 |
| 2012 | 765 |
| 2013 | 846 |
| 2014 | 944 |
| 2015 | 1,055 |
| 2016 | 1,034 |
| 2017 | 1,161 |
| 2018 | 1,113 |
| 2019 | 1,042 |
| 2020 | 1,031 |
| 2021 | 1,088 |
| 2022 | 1,033 |
| 2023 | 1,047 |
| 2024 | 1,042 |
Gideon through the decades
- Gideon peaked in 2017, when 1,161 babies were named Gideon in the US.
- The 2020s were Gideon's strongest decade, averaging 1,048 births a year.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Gideon has risen 76% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Gideon currently ranks #331 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Gid
Variants & spellings
Gideón