The baby name Jeremy blends Biblical roots with a long history of use.
Thanks to Meredith for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME JEREMY MEAN?
Let’s start with the Old Testament.
In Hebrew, Jeremiah means “God will exalt” or “God will uplift.” The name belongs to a heavy-hitting prophet, the author of the Book of Jeremiah.
Like so many old school names, medieval English substituted a Y ending. Margery for Margaret, Cecily for Cecilia, Mary for Maria. And yes, Jeremy for Jeremiah.
Jeremy appears across much of medieval Europe, though it gets mixed up with the saintly Jerome, a name of Greek origin, as well as other Jer- and Ger- names. The latter are plentiful; ger is a Germanic element meaning spear, surviving in Gervais and Gerald and Gerard.
Across gender lines there’s Geraldine and Gertrude, too.
JEREMY IN ENGLAND
The name remained in use in England, dotting the records.
One of the few notable figures by the name before the last century or so? Jeremy Bentham, an English philosopher and social reformer.
Bentham was radical by the standards of his time. He advocated for equal rights for women, separate of church and state, the end of slavery, capital punishment, and more. His writings and his students would influence future movements, reforming prisons, schools, and the law – to name just some of the changes he championed.
A number of other early Jeremys are also British.
20TH CENTURY FAVORITE
During the 19th century, this name remained (mostly) overlooked, at least in the United States.
The baby name Jeremy first appears in the US popularity data in the year 1923, with seven births.
It wouldn’t enter the US Top 1000 until 1942.
The name steadily caught on:
- Harper Lee gave the name Jeremy to Atticus Finch’s son in To Kill a Mockingbird. Except it’s easy to forget that. Sister Jean Louise preferred Scout, and Jeremy normally answered to Jem.
- 1960s English folk rock duo Chad & Jeremy scored their one and only hit with “Yesterday’s Gone.”
- The Beatles’ trippy 1968 cartoon movie Yellow Submarine included a not-quite-human character named Jeremy.
- Actor and teen idol Robby Benson played the title character in 1973’s Golden Globe-nominated movie Jeremy.
- Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons’ career took off in the 1980s. Other actors include Jeremy London, Jeremy Sisto, and Jeremy Piven.
Probably the biggest factor behind the baby name Jeremy’s rise?
In 1954, American musical film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was a huge hit. Its’ the story of seven brothers in 1850 Oregon Territory finding themselves wives – along with all sorts of singing and dancing. In 1968, ABC borrowed the concept for Here Come the Brides. They reduced the brothers to just three: Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy Bolt. It was the perfect name set for the moment.
Jeremy Bolt was played by Bobby Sherman, a teen idol who scored pop hits and fan mail by the pound. His popularity almost certainly explains the spike in the name’s use.
JEREMY IN MUSIC
Speaking of Bobby Sherman’s singing career …
Jeremiah was a bullfrog, but Jeremy was a Pearl Jam song.
The year was 1991, and bands like Pearl Jam were redefining rock music, introducing the world to the grunge sound of Seattle.
“Jeremy” was based on a true story, a dark tale of despair and tragedy. While the song wasn’t a chart-topping hit, the video would win an MTV Video of the Year award.
We remember it, and yet it doesn’t really re-shape the name’s image.
After all, by the time it was a familiar song, it had long since become a popular name, part of a generating answering to Jason, Justin, and Joshua.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME JEREMY?
The baby name Jeremy entered the US Top 300 in 1968. By 1970, it ranked in the Top 100.
Jeremy peaked in the 1970s, reaching #14 in 1976.
It’s fallen pretty steadily since then, but as of 2024, clocks in at a respectable #266.
The name helped shift our preferences in other ways, too. Zachary’s success owes much to the popularity of Jeremy. Then again, names like Anthony and Timothy opened the door for Jeremy in the first place.
One more trending name worth a mention? The unrelated Remy is a logical short form, and a popular option in its own right. It’s a refreshing alternative to Jerry.
MELLOW TRADITIONAL
Today, it’s Jeremiah ranking in the US Top 100.
But that flip makes Jeremy sound almost like a mellow traditional. Yes, along with Ryan and Austin, Jeremy is more likely to be the dad than the baby.
Except there’s something to be said for that kind of stability. For parents trying to thread the needle between new names and time-tested classics, Jeremy might be the perfect baby name choice. It never attained the dizzying popularity of Jason or Jacob, and it feels tougher to pin down to a specifc moment.
If you’re after something instantly familiar, but not overused for a 2020s baby, Jeremy has potential.
What do you think of the baby name Jeremy?
First published on September 13, 2010, this post was updated on October 14, 2014 and again on March 16, 2026.
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Beatrix Potter’s delightful use: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher. This Jeremy was also a frog, so that doesn’t help the froggy connotations any. But I love the idea of children having a classic story that shares their name, so this one just ups Jeremy’s appeal in my opinion.
Jeremy Fisher has also been one of my favorites, so that’s where my mind goes too!
Well, I have an ex-boyfriend named Jeremey, (that is really how he spelled it), so I can’t imagine using it for a future child! 😉 I was never a fan of the name even before he dumped me via text message-and now, well…I would rather use Jeremiah, anyway.
Photoquilty-I have long adored the nickname Jem for a James, a la Anne of Green Gables. You could always use that one!
I’m not a fan of Jeremy. Gerome, OK, but Jeremy – nah. And just like there are people who say Harry and hairy almost the same, I have heard some people who say Jeremy and germy very similarly… that doesn’t help the name (I actually *like* Harry, so I can live with hairy better, but germy is just another tick in the con column for Jeremy). All in all, this one is bland in my book, and not for me.
I had a evangelical Christian upbringing and Jeremy/Jeremiah/Jeremias are all names that scream fundamentalist Christian to me. Probably because I’ve known a lot of preacher’s kids with one of the name’s variants. ( I have the same problem with Nathanael/Nathan.)
Even if I wasn’t having such a visceral reaction, my other problem is the lack of a “good” nickname: Jerry, Jem, Jez? None of these win me over.
And there is a Jeremiah Duggar – along with a Jedidiah! Which adds to that, I suppose …
I quite enjoy Jeremy, even though I’ve known quite a few people by the name. In the King James Version (and several other versions) of the New Testament, the prophet Jeremiah is referred to as the Prophet Jeremy (e.g. Matt. 27:9). But I am very curious about your statement that Jeremiah is a bringer of bad news in Deuteronomy. Considering that the narrative in Deuteronomy ends with Moses’ death, and Jeremiah’s story begins during the reign of King Josiah, surely you must have meant Lamentations?
Not all names ending in Y are nicknames…
Of course, but that’s how it strikes me.
I really like Jeremy, although by ending in Y, it has sort of a nickname feel.
I was going to ask you to make Jeremy a name of the day so I’ve really enjoyed reading this post. I have no idea why I like Jeremy so much as he doesn’t fit in with my overall naming style – he’s a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine to be honest. I think the crux of it is that he just sounds like a really honest, decent, cheerful kind of chap. Plus, the fact that he’s familiar but not widely used really helps his case too (every Jeremy I know is in his 40’s)…
Jeremy was on my list for both boys, but my husband vetoed it. I’ve always liked it. Jem is a pretty cool nickname, too. Jeremiah? Yuck. Too religious sounding, and also too froggy.