Given name & surname
Jethro
“jethro Tull”·“man of abundance”
Jethro is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “jethro Tull” and “man of abundance” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original Hebrewיתרו
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “jethro Tull” and “man of abundance” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1893. 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 Jethro appears in Exodus 4:18, Exodus 2:18, Numbers 10:29 and 2 other passages.
- Exodus 4:18
- Exodus 2:18
- Numbers 10:29
- Exodus 18:11
- Exodus 18:20
From biblical name research
Jethro through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,325
- 4,325 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 245 babies
- 2025
- 245
- #953 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +39%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 245 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 953 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 38.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (25). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,436 as a first name in 2020; 116 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.
Jethro’s family of names
Jethro has a feminine form in Jethra. Jethro has a related form in Jeth. Jethro has a related form in Jethe.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Jethro has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 6
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Jethro
- Jethro TullBritish agricultural pioneer, activist of the British Agricultural Revolution1674–1741
- Jethro TeallBritish geologist and petrographist (1849-1924)
- Jethro SumnerAmerican Continental Army officer (c1733–c1785)
- Jethro PughPlayer of American football (1944-2015)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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