Jasper
Male namePersian
✨ Meaning
Jasper is generally traced to a Persian word meaning treasurer, and it is the English form of Caspar, one of the names traditionally given to the wise men who visited the infant Jesus. The gospels do not name them or state their number, so the names are a later tradition rather than scripture. Jasper is separately the name of an opaque quartz used for carving since antiquity.
🌍 Origin
The three-magi tradition gave the name wide currency across medieval Europe in forms including Caspar, Gaspard and Kaspar. Jasper became the standard English form and has been in use since the sixteenth century. It has climbed strongly in Britain, Australia and the United States since the 2000s as part of the return to antique boys' names.
📈 Popularity Trend
⭐ Famous People Named Jasper
- Jasper Johns
- Jasper Fforde
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jasper mean?
Jasper is generally traced to a Persian word meaning treasurer. It is also the name of an opaque quartz stone.
Was Jasper one of the three wise men?
By tradition, yes. The gospels do not name them, but medieval tradition settled on Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, and Jasper is the English form of Caspar.
Is Jasper a gemstone name?
The stone shares the name but the personal name came through the magi tradition rather than from the mineral.