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Judah

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOO-duh /ˈdʒuː.də/High

Meaning: Praised, let him be praised — from Hebrew Yehudah (praise, praised, let him be praised)High

In 30 seconds: From Hebrew meaning praised, Judah is the ancient tribal name of the Kingdom of Judah and the ancestor of the Davidic line. It carries enormous biblical depth and a modern confidence that has propelled it into the top 200.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningPraised, let him be praised — from Hebrew Yehudah (praise, praised, let him be praised)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 18,812

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719122017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Judah is the anglicized form of Hebrew Yehudah, meaning praised or let him be praised. In the Hebrew Bible, Judah is the fourth son of Jacob, whose tribe became the most significant in Israelite history. The Kingdom of Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital, was the southern kingdom after the division of Israel. From Judah came the word Jew (via Greek Ioudaios).

Judah has been in use as a given name in Jewish communities for millennia and has gained traction in broader American culture since the 2000s. It entered the U.S. top 200 boys names in the 2010s, appealing to parents drawn to its deep biblical roots, strong sound, and the recent fashion for Old Testament names (Elijah, Ezra, Levi). Its short form Jude is separately popular.

Did you know? Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the tribe of Judah — the most important of the twelve tribes, the one that produced King David, Solomon, and by lineage the Messiah in Jewish and Christian tradition. The southern kingdom of Israel was named Judah in his honour.

Variations

JudaJude

Nicknames

JudeJud

Famous Bearers

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If you like Judah…

Jude— the short Latin form of the same Hebrew root
Levi— Hebrew tribal name with the same short, punchy Old Testament character
Ezra— Hebrew prophetic name with the same understated biblical strength
Silas— short New Testament name popular with the same audience

Frequently Asked

What does the name Judah mean?

Judah comes from Hebrew Yehudah meaning praised or let him be praised.

How do you pronounce Judah?

Judah is pronounced JOO-duh — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Judah a boy or girl name?

Judah is a boys name.

How popular is Judah?

Judah entered the U.S. top 200 boys names in the 2010s and continues to rise as Old Testament names have surged in popularity.