Of Hebrew origin.
From the name “Yishay”, meaning “gift of God” or “God exists”.
According to the Old Testament, Jesse is King David’s father and he belongs in the genealogy of Jesus.
In some rabbinic traditions he is considered as one of the few ancient Israelites who died without a sin.
Jesse was used as an English name after the Protestant Reformation.
Alternative forms of the name are Jess, Jessie, Jese.
Famous bearers are Jesse Owens, Jesse Jackson, Jesse James, Jesse Eisenberg, Jesse Williams, Jesse Spencer, Jesse Carmichael, Jesse Bradford, Jesse Plemons, Jesse Metcalfe, Jesse McCartney.
Jesse Williams is an American actor and activist.
He became widely known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery in the tv series “Grey’s Anatomy”.
In the following video you may watch a short tribute of his role in the series:
Jesse Owens was an American track and field athlete.
He won four gold medals in the 1939 Olympic Games and he was credited with destroying Hitler’s myth of the so-called “Aryan supremacy”.
In the following video you may watch a short biography of the great athlete: