Yes, "Jesus" was a name before the time of Jesus Christ.
* Origin and Meaning: The name "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew name "Yeshua" (ישוע), which is a shortened form of "Yehoshua" (יהושע). Yehoshua translates to "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."
* Common Name: The name "Yeshua" (or its Greek form "Iesous") was a relatively common name in Judea during the Second Temple period (roughly 515 BCE to 70 CE).
* Biblical Figures: There are other figures in the Bible with the name Joshua/Yeshua. The most prominent is Joshua, son of Nun, Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
So, while Jesus Christ is the most well-known figure with that name, it's important to remember that it was an existing name with a specific meaning and was used by other people before his birth.