Jerome

Jerome is a given name and, less commonly, a surname used in various languages. It derives from the Latin form Hieronymus, which itself comes from the Greek Hierōnymos, combining hieros (holy) and onoma (name), and is often understood as meaning “holy name.” The name has appeared in religious, literary, and secular contexts across centuries, with multiple language variants such as Jérôme (French) and Hieronymus (German/Latin).

Saint Jerome, also known as Saint Hieronymus, is the most enduring bearer of the name. He lived in the 4th to 5th centuries and is revered as a Church Father and scholar. He is best known for producing the Latin Vulgate, a comprehensive translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek sources. Jerome spent much of his life in Bethlehem and Rome, where his philological work and exegetical writings influenced Western Christian scholarship for centuries.

Notable people named Jerome include Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927), an English novelist and essayist famed for Three Men in a Boat; Jerome Robbins (1918–1993), an American choreographer and director; Jerome Bettis (born 1972), an American football running back; and Jerome Powell (born 1953), an American economist and central banker who has served as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Jerome also appears as a place name. Jerome, Arizona, is a historic town in Yavapai County known for its mining heritage and hillside scenery, while Jerome, Idaho, is a small city in Idaho that sits near the Snake River region; Jerome County, Idaho, is another administrative entity bearing the name.