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Home › Baby Names Directory › Jodi

Jodi

♀ Girl

Pronounced JOH-dee /ˈdʒoʊ.di/High

Meaning: Pet form of Judith, from Hebrew Yehudit, 'woman of Judea; Jewish woman', often glossed 'praised'High

In 30 seconds: A friendly midcentury favorite that began as a nickname for Judith. Jodi peaked alongside Lori and Terri and now carries warm retro appeal.
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Origin HighHebrew, English
MeaningPet form of Judith, from Hebrew Yehudit, 'woman of Judea; Jewish woman', often glossed 'praised'
U.S. rank (2025)#4029 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births36 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 79,697

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197019402025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jodi is one of several spellings — with Jody and Jodie — of a pet form of Judith, the biblical heroine whose Hebrew name Yehudit means 'woman of Judea', from the tribal name often interpreted as 'praised'. Some Jodys trace instead to Joseph or Joan, making it a genuinely flexible nickname.

The name rocketed through midcentury America as part of the -i nickname wave (Jodi, Lori, Vicki, Terri) and appeared on both daughters and, in the Jody spelling, sons. Today Jodi reads as a warm Gen-X classic, rare on new birth certificates.

Did you know? Jodi Benson provided the singing and speaking voice of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989) and has voiced the character ever since.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Jody — etymology

Variations

JodyJodieJodee

Nicknames

Jo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jodi Benson (1961–present)
    American actress and singer, the voice of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid.
  • ★Jodi Picoult (1966–present)
    Best-selling American novelist known for My Sister's Keeper and Small Great Things.

If you like Jodi…

Judy— the other classic pet form of Judith
Lori— a fellow midcentury -i nickname that peaked in the same era
Randi— shares the -di ending
Jenny— the same vintage feel
Janice— the same vintage feel

Explore names like Jodi

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jodi mean?

Jodi began as a pet form of Judith, from Hebrew Yehudit, 'woman of Judea', traditionally glossed as 'praised'.

How do you pronounce Jodi?

It's said JOH-dee /ˈdʒoʊ.di/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jodi a boy or girl name?

Jodi is a girl's spelling; the variant Jody has historically been used for boys as well.

How popular is Jodi?

Jodi is rare for newborns today after being a familiar favorite in midcentury America.

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