"he who descends, descent"
Jared
Pronunciation: [ j-EHR-ihd ]
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A Hebrew patriarch name with centuries of history
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Meaning & Origin
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Things to Know About This Name
- Associated with Jared Fogle (Subway spokesperson convicted in 2015 on criminal charges), creating a reputational challenge for the name
The Story of Jared
Jared comes from the Hebrew 'Yered' meaning 'he descended' or 'descent.' In the Book of Genesis, Jared was one of the antediluvian patriarchs—son of Mahalalel and father of Enoch—who lived 962 years, making him the second-longest-lived person in the Bible after Methuselah. The name was revived by Puritans in 17th-century America who favored Old Testament names, and it gained mainstream American popularity in the late 20th century.
Jared was most popular in the US from the 1970s through the 1990s, peaking around 1991. It declined steadily through the 2000s and suffered additional reputational damage following the 2015 conviction of Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle. It remains a recognizable name from its era but sees significantly fewer new babies given this name today.
In the Book of Mormon, Jared is significant as the leader of the Jaredites—a people described as migrating to the Americas after the Tower of Babel. This makes Jared a common and revered name in Latter-day Saint communities. The biblical Jared's extraordinary longevity (962 years) made him a figure of enduring fascination in religious literature.
Historical Record
Jared first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 204,599 babies have been named Jared in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Jared is past its peak , currently ranked #394 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The biblical Jared lived 962 years according to Genesis—the second-longest lifespan recorded in the Bible
- Jared Leto is the first person born in the 1970s to win an Academy Award for acting (Best Supporting Actor, 2014)
Jared in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Jared
Jared Leto
Actor
1971
Academy Award-winning American actor (Dallas Buyers Club, 2014) and lead vocalist of Thirty Seconds to Mars
Jared (Biblical)
Religious
Antediluvian patriarch in Genesis, father of Enoch and ancestor of Noah; according to scripture he lived 962 years
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Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #394
- Total SSA Count
- 828
- Cultural Origins
- American English Mormon/LDS Christian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Jared
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Jared is also used as a girl name, ranked #19252.
View Jared as a girl name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (American)
See all American names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Jared
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Hebrew origin
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Welsh origin
"fighter"
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Roman origin
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Welsh origin
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Greek origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jared
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About the Name Jared
Jared is a boy name with American, English, Mormon/LDS, and Christian origins . The name means "he who descends, descent" in Hebrew .
Is Jared a boy or girl name? Jared is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #394 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #19,252. Jared is more commonly used as a boy name.
Jared is currently ranked #394 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Jared has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-EHR-ihd, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jared include Jay. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jared include Jareth, Jaren, Jarell, Jaret, Jarek . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis