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Gideon

Boy name · 26 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Gideon: 26 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 1987.

The name Gideon has Hebrew origins, meaning “hewer” or “one who cuts down,” from the root *g-d-d*; it is best known from the biblical judge who led Israel to victory against the Midianites. Notable bearers include Gideon Mantell, the 19th-century English geologist who discovered the first dinosaur fossils, and actor Gideon Emery, known for his roles in television and video games. Though no major modern places are directly named after a Gideon, the name became widely recognised through the Gideon Bible, found in hotel rooms worldwide. A notable variant is Gedeon, common in French and Hungarian contexts,