Jordan (English)
Where does "Jordan" come from?
The name Jordan originates from the Biblical Hebrew word 'yardén,' meaning 'to descend' or 'flowing down,' which refers specifically to the Jordan River. It traveled through Ancient Greek and Latin before entering English, and in the Middle Ages, the name became popular for children baptized with water brought back from the river by crusaders.
Full etymology tree
- Jordan (English), 'A placename:'
- inherited Iordanēs (Latin), 'the river Jordan'
- borrowed Ἰορδάνης (Iordánēs) (Ancient Greek), 'Jordan (a river in West Asia in the Middle East, that empties into the Dead Sea, flowing through Israel, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Jordan)'
- borrowed יַרְדֵּן (yardén) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Ἰορδάνης (Iordánēs) (Ancient Greek), 'Jordan (a river in West Asia in the Middle East, that empties into the Dead Sea, flowing through Israel, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Jordan)'
- inherited Iordanēs (Latin), 'the river Jordan'
Direct ancestors
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris