Gideon

“Hewer; one who cuts down” — Hebrew origin

Boy's name · #337 in the US (2025) · 2020s

Gideon has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #304 (2017) · 22,270 babies named Gideon all-time · 1 in 1,700 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,400 boys in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 4,700 boys in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 6,500 boys in Scotland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 45 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Gideons

Gideon Sundback — Swedish-American inventor (1880-1954)
Gideon Mantell — British scientist and obstetrician (1790–1852)
Gideon Sa'ar — Israeli politician
Gideon Ståhlberg — Swedish chess player (1908–1967)
Gideon Levy — Israeli journalist

In stories & tradition

Gideon — Judges · Epistle to the Hebrews
Gideon Fell — literary character
Gideon McDuck — Shellfish Motives

What Gideons become

Among 453 notable people named Gideon:

Military figures appear 1.79× more often than among typical names — e.g. Gideon Scheepers, Boer scout, commander and Cape rebel during Second Boer War (1878-1902).

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