How to say it
je · SÚS
heɪˈsus
Masculine
Jesus
Yahweh is salvation
What it means
Spanish form of Jesus, from Hebrew Yeshua (a contraction of Yehoshua, 'Yahweh is salvation'). Same root as Joshua. Used widely as a given name across Spanish-speaking countries in honor of Christ, separate from the English-speaking tradition that reserves the name.
Jesus (Spanish Jesús, with the accent on the second syllable) comes from the Hebrew Yeshua, itself a contraction of Yehoshua ('Yahweh is salvation'), the same name as Joshua, just transliterated through Greek and Latin. In Spanish-speaking Catholic countries the name is widely given to honor Christ; this is a divergence from English-speaking tradition, which reserves the name. Common in Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Latin American Catholic families. As a given name in the US it's been in the top 200 since the 1970s with Latino population growth. Common short: Jesús or Chuy (a traditional Mexican-Spanish nickname).
How to spell Jesus
The standard spelling is Jesus. Common variants include Jesús, Yeshua, Joshua, but Jesus is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #66 in 2001, currently #173 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
- Pronunciation
Spanish: heh-SOOS (the J is aspirated H). The English Jesus (JEE-zus) is reserved for Christ; the Spanish Jesús is a common given name.
- Nickname
Chuy is the traditional Mexican-Spanish short for Jesús; the English-speaking world rarely picks up on it.
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.
- Jesus Christ Central figure of Christianity, c. 4 BC - c. AD 33
Spelling variants
- Jesús
- Yeshua
- Joshua
Names with the same feeling
See Jesus from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Jesus mean?
- Spanish form of Jesus, from Hebrew Yeshua (a contraction of Yehoshua, 'Yahweh is salvation'). Same root as Joshua. Used widely as a given name across Spanish-speaking countries in honor of Christ, separate from the English-speaking tradition that reserves the name.
- What does Jesus mean in Spanish?
- In Spanish, Jesus means "Yahweh is salvation." Jesus (Spanish Jesús, with the accent on the second syllable) comes from the Hebrew Yeshua, itself a contraction of Yehoshua ('Yahweh is salvation'), the same name as Joshua, just transliterated through Greek and Latin. In Spanish-speaking Catholic countries the name is widely given to honor Christ; this is a divergence from English-speaking tradition, which reserves the name. Common in Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Latin American Catholic families. As a given name in the US it's been in the top 200 since the 1970s with Latino population growth. Common short: Jesús or Chuy (a traditional Mexican-Spanish nickname).
- How do you pronounce Jesus?
- Jesus is pronounced heɪˈsus. Say it as je-SÚS, with the stress on the "sús" syllable.
- How do you spell Jesus?
- The standard spelling is Jesus. Common spelling variants include Jesús, Yeshua, Joshua.
- Is Jesus a boy or girl name?
- Jesus is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Jesus?
- Jesus ranked #173 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.