"praised, let him be praised"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Judah
Pronunciation: [ j-OOD-uh ]
Does Judah flow with your last name?
A powerful Hebrew name meaning praise and thanksgiving
Hebrew
Christian
African-American
English
Bold
Spiritual
Strong
Vintage
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Judah
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Judah
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"thanksgiving to God"
Origin: Hebrew yadah
Language: English
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Judah
See all →What the Judah report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Judah the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Judah
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Judah head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Judah actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- The male form Judas is associated with betrayal; Judah itself is the tribe, not Judas, but some parents may conflate the two
The Story of Judah
Judah (Yehudah in Hebrew, יְהוּדָה) means 'praise' or 'thanksgiving to God,' derived from the Hebrew root 'yadah' (to praise). In the Bible, Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the tribe of Judah became the most powerful of the twelve tribes of Israel — giving us the word 'Jew' (Yehudi). While traditionally male, Judah has been gaining use as a feminine name, joining the trend of strong Old Testament names for girls.
Judah has been rising for girls as parents seek gender-neutral or traditionally masculine biblical names with strength and spiritual depth. The name is part of a broader trend that has seen Levi, Ezra, and Micah also cross gender lines.
The Kingdom of Judah was the southern Jewish kingdom that survived the Assyrian conquest and whose people became the ancestors of modern Jews. The Lion of Judah (Rastafarian symbol) and the Star of David are among the most recognizable symbols of Jewish identity globally.
Historical Record
Judah first appeared in US Social Security records in 1988.
Over 812 babies have been named Judah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Judah is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #3,774 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The word 'Jew' comes from Yehudi (Judean), derived from the tribe of Judah
- Judah is the ancestor of the Davidic royal line — both King David and, in Christian tradition, Jesus Christ were from the tribe of Judah
- The Rastafarian 'Lion of Judah' symbol represents Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia's claimed descent from the tribe of Judah
Judah in Other Languages
Greek
Ἰούδας (Ioudas)
Latin
Iudas/Iuda
Arabic
يهوذا
Hebrew
יְהוּדָה (Yehudah)
Amharic
ይሁዳ (Yihuda)
Popularity Over Time
#3,774
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Annaleia
Girl
"weary, tender"
#3,602
Amyla
Girl
"beloved"
#3,606
Allana
Girl
"dear child (term of endearment)"
#3,702
Rocky
Girl
"rest, repose"
#3,826
Audrie
Girl
"of noble character and power"
#3,891
Compare Judah with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #3,774
- Total SSA Count
- 40
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew Christian African-American English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Jude
JuJu
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Judah
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Judah fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Judah is also used as a boy name, ranked #179.
View Judah as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Judah →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Judah with...
Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
See all Hebrew names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Judah
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Judah and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Judah sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Annaleia
Girl
Hebrew via Leah origin
"weary, tender"
#3,602 in US
Amyla
Girl
Latin/French via Amy origin
"beloved"
#3,606 in US
Allana
Girl
Gaelic origin
"dear child (term of endearment)"
#3,702 in US
Rocky
Girl
Germanic origin
"rest, repose"
#3,826 in US
Audrie
Girl
Anglo-Saxon origin
"of noble character and power"
#3,891 in US
Eugenia
Girl
Ancient Greek origin
"good race, noble kind"
#3,750 in US
Annora
Girl
Latin origin
"honor, esteem"
#3,697 in US
Maude
Girl
Germanic origin
"mighty in battle"
#3,689 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Judah's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judah
What does the name Judah mean?
"praised, let him be praised" (from Hebrew). "thanksgiving to God" (from Hebrew yadah). Judah (Yehudah in Hebrew, יְהוּדָה) means 'praise' or 'thanksgiving to God,' derived from the Hebrew root 'yadah' (to praise). In the Bible, Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the tribe of Judah became the most powerful of the twelve tribes of Israel — giving us the word 'Jew' (Yehudi). While traditionally male, Judah has been gaining use as a feminine name, joining the trend of strong Old Testament names for girls.
What is the origin of the name Judah?
Judah has Hebrew, Hebrew yadah, Christian, African-American, and English origins. In Hebrew, it means "praised, let him be praised". In Hebrew yadah, it means "thanksgiving to God".
Is Judah a boy or girl name?
Judah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #3774. As a boy name, it is ranked #179. Judah is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Judah?
Judah is pronounced j-OOD-uh.
How popular is the name Judah?
Judah is currently ranked #3774 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Judah?
Common nicknames for Judah include Jude and JuJu.
What are good middle names for Judah?
Popular middle name pairings include Judah Pearl, Judah Mae, Judah Rose, Judah Grace, Judah Elise, Judah Sage, and Judah Wren.
What are good sibling names for Judah?
Names that pair well with Judah as siblings include Zion, Eden, Israel, Naomi, Levi, and Selah.
How many syllables does Judah have?
Judah has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Judah a common or rare name?
Judah is an uncommon name, ranked #3774 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Judah
Judah is a girl name with Hebrew, Christian, African-American, and English origins . The name means "praised, let him be praised" in Hebrew .
Is Judah a boy or girl name? Judah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #3,774 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #179. Judah is more commonly used as a boy name.
Judah is currently ranked #3,774 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Judah has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-OOD-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Judah include Jude and JuJu. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew Names
Browse all names with this origin
J
Names Starting with J
More girl names like Judah
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis