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Jude

♀ Girl

Pronounced JOOD-eh /ˈdʒud.ɛ/Low

Meaning: Short form of Judah, from Hebrew Yehudah 'praised, thanks be given'.Low

In 30 seconds: Jude is a short form of Judah, from Hebrew Yehudah meaning 'praised'. Used for a girl, it reads spare, soft, and modern.
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Origin LowHebrew, English
MeaningShort form of Judah, from Hebrew Yehudah 'praised, thanks be given'.
U.S. rank (2024)#2156 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births88 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,930

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819342024

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

History & Origin

Jude comes from the Hebrew Yehudah, 'praised, thanks be given', as a clipped form of Judah. The single syllable gives it a clean, understated quality that works easily across genders. The thankful, praising sense gives it warmth beneath the simplicity.

Actors Jude Law and Jude Ciccolella have carried it on the masculine side, which makes its use for a girl feel deliberately unisex. The soft j and long u keep it gentle whoever wears it.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Jude is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Jude — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Jude Law (1972–present)
    English actor, BAFTA winner and Oscar nominee for The Talented Mr. Ripley.
  • ★Jude Ciccolella (1947–present)
    American actor known for playing Mike Novick on the TV series 24.

If you like Jude…

Judah— the full Hebrew name Jude shortens, sharing the 'praised' meaning
Juno— another short, soft J- name used for girls
Jada— shares the J- opening and clean, modern sound
June— a single-syllable J- girl's name with the same spare feel
Judith— shares the Hebrew Jud- root and praising heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jude mean?

Jude is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Jude?

It's commonly said JOOD-eh /ˈdʒud.ɛ/.

Is Jude a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Jude is used as a girl name.

How popular is Jude?

In 2024, Jude ranked #2156 in the U.S. for girls, with 88 births recorded.