Gideon Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gideon is a Hebrew name meaning 'hewer' or 'warrior'. Its historical path includes the biblical figure known for his leadership. The name embodies traits of strength and bravery, and it has biblical relevance as a prominent character in the Old Testament.
The name Gideon is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gideon has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Gideon' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1473rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2119th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1983rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1405th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1136th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 620th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 323rd out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 29526th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21282nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gideon' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gideon"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡɪdiən/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Gideon comes from the Hebrew name 'Gid'on', which means 'hewer' or 'one who cuts trees'.
Meaning
Feller, warrior
Language Evolution
Gid'on (Hebrew), Gideon (English)
Biblical Background
Gideon is a significant figure in the Bible, known for leading the Israelites to victory over the Midianites.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Protestant Reformation, as biblical names became more favored.
Variants & Derivatives
Gide, Gid, Gideonson
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Gideon is viewed as a strong and traditional name, often associated with leadership and bravery.
Famous People
Gideon Welles, American politician, Gideon Rachman, British journalist
Explore More Gideon Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gideon"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gideon"
"Gideon" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1473rd of 7545 | 396 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2119th of 6773 | 223 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1983rd of 7552 | 308 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1405th of 10718 | 600 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1136th of 16616 | 1,332 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 620th of 24088 | 5,866 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 323rd of 23106 | 12,415 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 29526th of 35406 | 11 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 21282nd of 30306 | 21 |
Regional Popularity of "Gideon" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
67.37% 954th/1416 |
86.58% 1194th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
46.79% 1137th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
57.51% 1689th/2937 |
31.18% 1086th/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
29.03% 1174th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
31.86% 1174th/3685 |
19.49% 872nd/4475 |
28.76% 1494th/5194 |
23.67% 1495th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
11.48% 526th/4582 |
12.57% 649th/5164 |
9.49% 694th/7313 |
7.65% 571st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
6.45% 257th/3984 |
8.58% 385th/4487 |
5.17% 353rd/6822 |
5.42% 340th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Gideon" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gideon"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gideon" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.