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Gideon

Hebrew
"hewer; or, having a stump for a hand"
Clare Green
By Clare Green
Updated Mon Apr 22 2024

Gideon Origin and Meaning

The name Gideon is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "hewer; or, having a stump for a hand".

Gideon is a no-longer neglected Old Testament name, but still makes an excellent choice for parents looking to move beyond such overused biblicals as Benjamin and Jacob. In the Old Testament, Gideon was a judge called on by God to rescue the Jews from the Midianites, and the name was popular among the Puritans.

Gideon was given a spike by the short-lived TV series Gideon's Crossing, and has been heard more recently as a main character in Criminal Minds, as Molly Weasley's brother Gideon Prewett in the Harry Potter series, and as an anti-hero, Gideon Gordon Graves, in the Scott Pilgrim series.

The ubiquitous, in-every-hotel-room Gideon bibles were named because Gideon symbolizes great work done by few people.

Among the celebs who have chosen Gideon for their sons are Neil Patrick Harris and Ziggy Marley.

# 333 in the US

Gideon Rank in US Top 1000

# 121 on Nameberry

Gideon Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Gideon Popularity

Famous People Named Gideon

  • GideonBiblical judge
  • Gideon EmeryBritish actor
  • Gideon YagoAmerican MTV news anchor and writer
  • Gideon Lee YuAmerican businessman and football team owner
  • Gideon HausnerIsraeli jurist and politician
  • Gideon ArielIsraeli biomechanic and athlete
  • Gideon LevyIsraeli journalist and author
  • Gideon BaahGhanaian footballer
  • Gideon GardnerU.S. Congressman from Massachusetts
  • Gideon BarstowU.S. Congressman from Massachusetts
  • Gideon Welles24th U.S. Secretary of the Navy
  • Gideon LeeU.S. Congressman from New York; 60th Mayor of New York City
  • Gideon CoeBritish radio personality
  • Gideon Algernon MantellEnglish paleontologist who discovered Iguanadon
  • Gideon Babe Ruth Howardson of actors Debra Winger and Arliss Howard
  • Gideon Scott BurtkaHarris (b. 2010), son of actors Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka; twin of sister Harper Grace
  • Clarence Gideoncriminal defendant whose appeal led to Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright
  • Gideon Martyn Forsyth (b. 2018)son of Joy,Anna (Duggar) and Austin Forsyth from "Counting On"
  • Gideon Aroniactor
  • As a girl name:
  • Gideon Adlonactress and daughter of Pamela Adlon

Gideon in Pop Culture

  • Gideon Prewettcharacter in the Harry Potter series; brother to Molly Weasley
  • Gideon Pontipeecharacter in musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"
  • Gideon Lightwoodcharacter in Cassandra Clare's "The Infernal Devices" trilogy
  • Gideon Readercharacter in the Shapeshifter series
  • Gideoncharacter in "Will Grayson, Will Grayson' by John Green and David Levithan
  • Gideon Gleefulcharacter on Disney's animated series "Gravity Falls"
  • Gideon Cahillancestor of the Cahill family in the 39 Clues series
  • Gideon Seymourcharacter in The Time Travelers/Gideon the Cutpurse
  • Gideonmutant in X,Men comics
  • Gideoncharacter on TV's "Charmed"
  • Gideonduck in British animated series "Gideon"
  • Gideon Oliver Dobbsmain character in 1998 film "Gideon"
  • Gideon Cross aka The Demon Huntercomics character
  • Gideoncaptain of the guard for King Limhi in the Book of Mormon
  • Gideon Crossmain character in Sylvia Day's Crossfire series
  • Gideonfemale AI on TV's "The Flash" and "Legends of Tomorrow"
  • Gideon Greycharacter in Disney's "Zootopia"
  • Gideon de Villierscharacter in the German Ruby Red novel trilogy by Kerstin Gier
  • Gideon Reevescharacter on TV's "APB"
  • Jason Gideoncharacter on TV's 'Criminal Minds'
  • Ben Gideonmain character on TV's "Gideon's Crossing"
  • Abel Gideoncharacter on TV's "Hannibal"
  • George Gideon of Scotland Yardcharacter in novels by John Creasey
  • Gideon (bibles)mentioned in the Beatles song "Rocky Raccoon"
  • Gideon Altairecharacter in James Gurney's series "Dinotopia"
  • Gideon Gravesmain villain of the Scott Pilgrim comics/movie
  • Gideon Gemstonecharacter on TV’s “The Righteous Gemstones”