Meaning & History
Jeremy is an English masculine given name, originating as a medieval vernacular form of Jeremiah. While the biblical name Jeremiah was not widely used in England until after the Protestant Reformation, the shorter Jeremy appears in English records as early as the 13th century. The name shares the same ultimate meaning as Jeremiah, which derives from the Hebrew root rum meaning "to exalt" and yah referring to the Hebrew God, thus signifying "Yahweh will exalt."
Biblical Context
Jeremy is the form used in some English versions of the New Testament, specifically the King James Version, where it appears in Matthew 2:17 and Matthew 27:9. In the Old Testament, the original Hebrew name Yirmeyahu belonged to one of the major prophets, Jeremiah, who is traditionally credited as the author of the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations. He lived during the 6th century BC and witnessed the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
Historical Usage
The name Jeremy has been a productive source of diminutives in English, including Jem, Jemmy, Jere, Jerry, Jez (chiefly British), and Jezza (also British). These variants reflect the name's long history of colloquial use. In other languages, cognate forms include Portuguese Jeremias, Finnish Jorma, Greek Ieremias, Latin Hieremias, and Amharic Ermias.
Notable Bearers
Among the many famous individuals named Jeremy are English actor Jeremy Brett (1933–1995), best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes; television presenter Jeremy Beadle (1948–2008); Welsh journalist Jeremy Bowen; English actor Jeremy Bulloch (who portrayed Boba Fett in the Star Wars films); and playwright and screenwriter Jez Butterworth. The name also appears as a surname, handled separately on NameHub.
Summary
- Meaning: "Yahweh will exalt"
- Origin: English vernacular form of the Hebrew name Jeremiah
- Type: Given name (masculine)
- Usage: Predominantly English-speaking countries
- Feminine counterpart: None standard
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Jeremy (given name)