"praised, celebrated"
Jodie
Pronunciation: [ j-OHD-ee ]
A friendly classic with 70s sunshine energy
Meaning & Origin
"woman of Judea"
The Story of Jodie
Jodie is a diminutive form of Judith, which comes from the Hebrew 'Yehudit,' meaning 'woman of Judea' or 'praised.' Judith was a celebrated heroine in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, known for her courage in saving her people from the Assyrian general Holofernes. The nickname Jodie/Jody developed as an affectionate diminutive, particularly popular in English-speaking countries from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Jodie peaked in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, partly due to actress Jodie Foster becoming one of Hollywood's most critically respected figures. The name now carries a warm, retro feel that appeals to parents who grew up with it and want to honor that nostalgia.
In Australia, Jodie remains more consistently popular than in the US, reflecting Australian preferences for casual, friendly-sounding names. Jodie Whittaker's groundbreaking role as the first female Doctor in Doctor Who (2018) gave the name a new generation of cultural resonance in the UK.
Fun Facts
- Jodie Foster won Academy Awards for Best Actress in 1989 (The Accused) and 1992 (The Silence of the Lambs)
- Jody was originally used as a boy's name in American folk and military songs
- Jodie Whittaker became the first woman to play the Doctor in Doctor Who in 2018
Jodie in Other Languages
Famous People Named Jodie
Jodie Whittaker
Actor
1982
British actress who became the first woman to play the Doctor in Doctor Who (2018-2022), breaking a 55-year tradition
Jodie Foster
Actor
1962
Two-time Academy Award-winning American actress and director, celebrated for her roles in Taxi Driver and The Silence of...
Two-time Academy Award-winning American actress and director, celebrated for her roles in Taxi Driver and The Silence of the Lambs
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #3,943
- Total SSA Count
- 38
- Cultural Origins
- English American Australian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Jodie is also used as a boy name, ranked #12507.
View Jodie as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jodie
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About the Name Jodie
Jodie is a girl name with English, American, and Australian origins . The name means "praised, celebrated" in Hebrew via Latin .
Is Jodie a boy or girl name? Jodie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #3,943 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #12,507. Jodie is more commonly used as a girl name.
Jodie is currently ranked #3,943 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Jodie has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-OHD-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jodie include Jo. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jodie include Jodi . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.