Given name & surname
Jared
“descent”·“of the descent; descending”
Jared is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “descent” and “of the descent; descending” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original Hebrewירד
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “descent” and “of the descent; descending” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
From Latin Iared, from Ancient Greek Ἰαρέδ, from Biblical Hebrew יֶרֶד (yéred).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Jared appears in Genesis 5:15, Luke 3:37, 1 Chronicles 4:18.
- Genesis 5:15
- Luke 3:37
- 1 Chronicles 4:18
From biblical name research
Jared through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 207,119
- 206,351 boys · 768 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 7,478 babies
- 2025
- 804
- #396 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 804 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 396 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 1.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 7,462 in 1998. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (121). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 180,306 as a first name in 2020; 1,383 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Jared’s family of names
In English usage, Jared has a diminutive in Jerry. In English usage, Jared has a related form in Jarrod. Jared has a related form in Jarrod.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 20
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Jared
- Jared LetoAmerican actor, singer, musician and songwriter (born 1971)
- Jared DiamondAmerican scientist, historian, and author (born 1937)
- Jared KushnerAmerican businessman and real estate investor (born 1981)
- Jared PadaleckiAmerican actorborn 1982
- Jared HarrisBritish actorborn 1961
- Jared IsaacmanAmerican businessman, pilot, and private astronautborn 1983
- Jared PolisAmerican politicianborn 1975
- Drake BellAmerican actor (born 1986)
- Jared BorgettiMexican footballerborn 1973
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Jared, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jacob
“heel grabber” · “supplanter”
>99% boys
Jesus
“God is my salvation”
>99% boys
Javan
“mire” · “mud man”
>99% boys
Seth
“one who has been appointed”
>99% boys
Nathanael
“God has given”
>99% boys
Jonah
“dove”
99% boys · 1% girls
Caleb
“dog” · “resembling a dog”
>99% boys
Joshua
“God . is salvation” · “God is salvation”
>99% boys