The name Jesse comes from the Hebrew name Yishay meaning "gift".
As a feminine name it can be a variant of Jessie.
Famous bearers
Jesse was the father of King David in the Old Testament.
Modern bearers include Jesse B. Oldendorf (1887 - 1974), an admiral in the United States Navy, famous for defeating a Japanese force in the Battle of Leyte Gulf during World War II;
Jesse Owens (1913 - 1980), an American athlete;
Jesse A. McCartney (born 1987), an American pop singer and actor.
