Meaning & History
Iairos is the New Testament Greek form of the name Jairus. In the biblical context, Iairos (Ιάϊρος) appears in the Gospel accounts as the name of a synagogue leader whose daughter was miraculously raised from the dead by Jesus (Mark 5:22-43, Luke 8:41-56). The name itself is derived from the Hebrew name Jair, which means "he shines" (from the Hebrew element ʾor meaning "to shine").
In the Old Testament, Jair was the name of a son of Manasseh (Numbers 32:41) and also one of the judges of Israel who judged for twenty-two years (Judges 10:3-5). Thus, Iairos carries a rich heritage, linking back to ancient Hebrew theophoric traditions. The Greek rendering reflects the Hellenistic period when Jewish names were adapted into Greek for the Septuagint and New Testament texts.
Notably, Iairos is not commonly used as a given name in modern times, but its related forms have persisted in various cultures. Variants include Iair (Biblical Latin), Iairus (Biblical Latin), and Jaír (Spanish Biblical). In present-day usage, Jair (as in Brazilian footballer Jair Ventura Filho) and Yair (a contemporary Israeli name) continue the legacy. The name Iairos itself, however, remains confined to biblical scholarship and religious contexts.
- Meaning: "he shines"
- Origin: Hebrew (via Greek New Testament)
- Type: Biblical first name
- Usage: Greek Bible, historical