Jeremiah

Meaning of Jeremiah

Jeremiah—pronounced juh-RY-migh-uh (/dʒəˈraɪ.maɪ.ə/)—originates from the Hebrew Yirməyāhū, a theophoric construction that couples the verb rûm (“to raise, exalt”) with the divine element YHWH, yielding the sense “Yahweh will exalt.” In the Hebrew Bible the name is borne by the 7th-century BCE prophet whose oracles and poetic laments, later collected in the Book of Jeremiah and traditionally linked to Lamentations, established enduring connotations of moral foresight and poignant social critique; indeed, the English term “jeremiad” still denotes a sober admonition modeled on his rhetoric. Transmitted into English via the Latin Ieremias and favoured by Reformation-era translators, Jeremiah entered Anglo-American onomastic practice with the Puritans, persistently circulating thereafter and, according to U.S. vital-statistics records, maintaining a solid if fluctuating presence: after modest mid-20th-century usage it ascended steadily from the late 1960s, reached a zenith in the mid-2010s (hovering near the national top fifty), and currently rests just inside the top one hundred, a trajectory that suggests both scriptural durability and contemporary stylistic appeal. The name’s rhythmic four-syllable profile, approachable diminutives (Jerry, Jem, Miah), and resonance with themes of integrity and resilience contribute to its sustained favour among American parents who seek a venerable yet vivacious choice.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as juh-RY-migh-uh (/dʒəˈraɪ.maj.ə/)

• Jeremy
• Jairus
• Jared
• Jermaine
• Jaron
• Jareth
• Jermiah