Jordan

יַרְדֵּן

• Gender: Unisex
• Origin: Jew-ish
• Meaning: descend, flow down

• Jordan takes its name from the river that marks one of the most dramatic moments in the Bible — the crossing into the Promised Land. In Hebrew, it comes from the root meaning "to flow down," capturing the movement and vitality of running water. It became a massive hit in the 1990s for both boys and girls, and while its peak popularity has passed, it has settled into the comfortable role of a modern classic.

  There's something reassuring about a name that can be massively popular and still feel personal. Its nineties heyday has mellowed into a comfortable familiarity that now reads as classic rather than trendy. For Jewish parents who want deep biblical geography baked in but zero pronunciation hurdles in any setting, Jordan remains one of the most seamless choices around.

• Alternate Spellings: Jordyn, Jorden, Jordaan, Jordin
• Hebrew Equivalent:
  Yarden
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Eden
  ,
  Ariel
  ,
  Noah
  ,
  David
• Theme: Israel