How to say it
GID · e · on
ˈɡɪd.i.ən
Masculine
Gideon
Hewer, mighty warrior
What it means
Hebrew Gidon, 'one who cuts down,' taken to mean 'mighty warrior.'
Gideon comes from the Hebrew Gidon, 'hewer' or 'feller,' read as 'mighty warrior.' In the Book of Judges, Gideon routs a vast Midianite army with just three hundred men, a story of bold faith against the odds. The Gideons International, who place Bibles in hotel rooms, keep the name in everyday view. It pairs a warrior's meaning with a gentle, scholarly sound. Gid is the rare short.
How to spell Gideon
The standard spelling is Gideon. Common variants include Gidon, Gedeon, Gideón, but Gideon is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #304 in 2017, currently #337 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
The biblical judge who defeated the Midianites; also the Gideon Bibles.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Gideon the Hebrew judge who routed the Midianites with 300 men
Spelling variants
- Gidon
- Gedeon
- Gideón
Names with the same feeling
See Gideon from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Gideon mean?
- Hebrew Gidon, 'one who cuts down,' taken to mean 'mighty warrior.'
- What does Gideon mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Gideon means "Hewer, mighty warrior." Gideon comes from the Hebrew Gidon, 'hewer' or 'feller,' read as 'mighty warrior.' In the Book of Judges, Gideon routs a vast Midianite army with just three hundred men, a story of bold faith against the odds. The Gideons International, who place Bibles in hotel rooms, keep the name in everyday view. It pairs a warrior's meaning with a gentle, scholarly sound. Gid is the rare short.
- How do you pronounce Gideon?
- Gideon is pronounced ˈɡɪd.i.ən. Say it as GID-e-on, with the stress on the "gid" syllable.
- How do you spell Gideon?
- The standard spelling is Gideon. Common spelling variants include Gidon, Gedeon, Gideón.
- Is Gideon a boy or girl name?
- Gideon is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Gideon?
- Gideon ranked #337 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.