Three boys who share one rare name

The name Jericho hails from a Palestinian city located in the Jordan Valley. It’s famously known for its Biblical ties, being one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, and possessing the oldest known protective walls. Although Jericho Bourdeau and Jericho Cosning aren’t 11,000, they are just as settled in their high school years as 12th graders. Oddly enough, the two do not share much in common other than their first name and grade level.

“I absolutely love my name,” said Bourdeau. “It’s different and I’m actually Jericho Junior because my dad’s name is also Jericho. [My parents] wanted to name me Jericho because it’s different and my father wanted to continue the cycle of the name Jericho. When I have kids I’ll probably name my son Jericho (if I have a son).”

Interestingly, everyone in Cosning’s family has first names that end with “CHO,” but he expressed his want to change his name for a long time before ultimately resigning to keep it. “I want my name to start with z or k, it should [be] Zora or Kaisel,” he said. “I never thought about it before, but if I have to say it could be Zora means that strong and kind and really an ancient name, I guess. Kaisel meaning comes from an ancient dragon name. I’m kind of a geek when it comes to ancient birds.”

When it comes to interests, the two couldn’t be any more different. Bourdeau said, “I love music and I love to w

rite music, I also just love to write in general. Writing is no problem to me and I’d do it any chance I’d get. That’s why English doesn’t bother me or create a drag on my life; it never has and probably never will.” 

A third student shares this uncommon name: freshman Jericho Johnson. Unfortunately, he did not return responses to the questions shared with him earlier in the month.