Jesse is a Hebrew name meaning 'gift' or 'God exists' that gained outlaw associations through Jesse James, the famous American bank and train robber of the Wild West era. The name has biblical origins (Jesse was the father of King David) and has been consistently popular in English-speaking countries for centuries. It ranks in the top 50 names for boys in the United States and is also popular in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Famous Jesses include outlaw Jesse James, athlete Jesse Owens, musician Jesse McCartney, and politician Jesse Jackson.