Judah Boy

Popularity: #176 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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.

LeviSimeonReubenBenjaminIsaacEli

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.

JudeJosiahJonahJudsonJasperJaxonJulianJett

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Judah was first seen in the United States in 1912.

Judah has ranked as high as #317 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,091 2,050 41
2024 2,132 2,092 40
2023 2,140 2,101 39
2022 2,148 2,098 50
2021 2,178 2,133 45
2020 2,160 2,109 51
2019 2,119 2,073 46
2018 2,056 2,022 34
2017 1,974 1,932 42
2016 1,710 1,681 29
2015 1,682 1,652 30
2014 1,584 1,550 34
2013 1,380 1,350 30
2012 1,332 1,307 25
2011 1,259 1,229 30
2010 1,140 1,111 29
2009 1,019 992 27
2008 791 771 20
2007 715 692 23
2006 553 530 23
2005 501 481 20
2004 429 411 18
2003 324 306 18
2002 309 295 14
2001 253 239 14
2000 214 199 15
1999 175 166 9
1998 150 139 11
1997 138 128 10
1996 100 91 9
1995 113 104 9
1994 83 83 0
1993 79 71 8
1992 65 65 0
1991 61 61 0
1990 73 68 5
1989 55 55 0
1988 75 70 5
1987 50 50 0
1986 47 47 0
1985 43 43 0
1984 48 48 0
1983 54 54 0
1982 40 40 0
1981 60 60 0
1980 37 37 0
1979 38 38 0
1978 54 54 0
1977 55 55 0
1976 34 34 0
1975 37 37 0
1974 44 44 0
1973 24 24 0
1972 25 25 0
1971 24 24 0
1970 14 14 0
1969 11 11 0
1968 14 14 0
1967 10 10 0
1966 16 16 0
1965 10 10 0
1964 9 9 0
1963 10 10 0
1962 6 6 0
1961 11 11 0
1960 10 10 0
1959 8 8 0
1958 10 10 0
1957 6 6 0
1956 9 9 0
1955 9 9 0
1954 13 13 0
1953 10 10 0
1952 5 5 0
1950 8 8 0
1949 7 7 0
1948 5 5 0
1947 7 7 0
1945 8 8 0
1940 5 5 0
1937 5 5 0
1934 10 10 0
1933 6 6 0
1932 8 8 0
1931 9 9 0
1930 6 6 0
1928 9 9 0
1926 6 6 0
1924 12 12 0
1923 13 13 0
1922 6 6 0
1921 5 5 0
1920 8 8 0
1919 6 6 0
1918 5 5 0
1917 7 7 0
1912 5 5 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 221
11%
CA 151
7%
FL 123
6%
TN 100
5%
NC 98
5%
GA 95
5%
NY 80
4%
PA 74
4%
OH 74
4%
VA 71
3%
IN 71
3%
MO 59
3%
IL 52
3%
WA 51
2%
NJ 50
2%
SC 49
2%
MI 47
2%
CO 40
2%
OK 39
2%
LA 36
2%
AZ 36
2%
MN 33
2%
MD 32
2%
AL 31
1%
AR 31
1%
KY 31
1%
IA 29
1%
WI 29
1%
KS 22
1%
NE 19
1%
OR 18
1%
MS 17
1%
CT 16
1%
NM 14
1%
HI 13
1%
MA 13
1%
ID 12
1%
WV 12
1%
SD 12
1%
UT 12
1%
NV 9
0%
ME 8
0%
DE 8
0%
MT 7
0%
ND 7
0%
DC 7
0%
AK 6
0%
NH 5
0%