Judah Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JOO-duh //ˈdʒuːdə//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: praised; English: derived from the Hebrew
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Judah has its origins in the Hebrew language, derived from the root word "yadah," which means "to praise." In Hebrew, the name is rendered as "Yehudah," reflecting its biblical significance. The name entered the English language through the Greek form "Ioudas" and the Latin "Judas," before being adopted into Old French as "Judah," ultimately making its way into Middle English.
This linguistic evolution highlights the name's deep roots in ancient texts and its connection to themes of praise and gratitude. Historically, Judah is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, being one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Tribe of Judah.
This tribe played a crucial role in the history of Israel, particularly as the lineage from which King David and, according to Christian tradition, Jesus are descended. The name is also associated with significant biblical events, including the blessing given by Jacob to his sons, which is recorded in the Book of Genesis, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE.
The tribe of Judah became the leading tribe of the southern kingdom of Judah after the division of the united monarchy of Israel. Culturally, the name Judah carries substantial resonance within Jewish tradition, symbolizing leadership and strength.
It is often associated with themes of redemption and hope, particularly in the context of Jewish history and identity. The name has also been borne by various historical figures, including several kings of Judah, which further cemented its significance in the cultural and religious landscape.
In Christian contexts, the name is sometimes linked to the apostle Judas, although this association is more complex due to the differing connotations attached to the name in the New Testament. Overall, Judah remains a name rich in historical and cultural significance, embodying themes of praise and legacy.
Famous people named Judah
In this section, you will find notable people named Judah. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Judah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Judah who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Judah Maccabee is a historical figure best known for leading the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
Judah Ben Hur is a fictional character best known for the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and its film adaptations.
Fictional characters named Judah
The following list of fictional characters named Judah is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Judah is a fictional character from the comic book series The Sandman. He is a member of the Endless, representing the concept of dreams and stories.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Judah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Judah. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Judah was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Judah has ranked as high as #301 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Judah has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Judah is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Judah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Judah (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 214 | |
| CA | 151 | |
| FL | 123 | |
| TN | 100 | |
| NC | 98 | |
| GA | 95 | |
| NY | 80 | |
| OH | 74 | |
| PA | 74 | |
| IN | 71 | |
| VA | 71 | |
| MO | 59 | |
| IL | 52 | |
| WA | 51 | |
| SC | 49 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Judah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,069 |
| 2023 | 2,096 |
| 2022 | 2,094 |
| 2021 | 2,133 |
| 2020 | 2,107 |
| 2019 | 2,073 |
| 2018 | 2,022 |
| 2017 | 1,931 |
| 2016 | 1,680 |
| 2015 | 1,650 |
| 2014 | 1,550 |
| 2013 | 1,350 |
| 2012 | 1,306 |
| 2011 | 1,229 |
| 2010 | 1,111 |
| 2009 | 992 |
| 2008 | 771 |
| 2007 | 692 |
| 2006 | 530 |
| 2005 | 481 |
| 2004 | 411 |
| 2003 | 306 |
| 2002 | 295 |
| 2001 | 239 |
| 2000 | 199 |
| 1999 | 166 |
| 1998 | 139 |
| 1997 | 128 |
| 1996 | 91 |
| 1995 | 104 |
| 1994 | 83 |
| 1993 | 71 |
| 1992 | 65 |
| 1991 | 61 |
| 1990 | 68 |
| 1989 | 55 |
| 1988 | 70 |
| 1987 | 50 |
| 1986 | 47 |
| 1985 | 43 |
| 1984 | 48 |
| 1983 | 54 |
| 1982 | 40 |
| 1981 | 60 |
| 1980 | 37 |
| 1979 | 38 |
| 1978 | 54 |
| 1977 | 55 |
| 1976 | 34 |
| 1975 | 37 |
| 1974 | 44 |
| 1973 | 24 |
| 1972 | 25 |
| 1971 | 24 |
| 1970 | 14 |
| 1969 | 11 |
| 1968 | 14 |
| 1967 | 10 |
| 1966 | 16 |
| 1965 | 10 |
| 1964 | 9 |
| 1963 | 10 |
| 1962 | 6 |
| 1961 | 11 |
| 1960 | 10 |
| 1959 | 8 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1956 | 9 |
| 1955 | 9 |
| 1954 | 13 |
| 1953 | 10 |
| 1952 | 5 |
| 1950 | 8 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1933 | 6 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1924 | 12 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1922 | 6 |
| 1921 | 5 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1919 | 6 |
| 1918 | 5 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1912 | 5 |