Baby Name of the Day: Judah

The baby name Judah has transformed from Biblical rarity to mainstream favorite over the last few decades.

Thanks to Racheli for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

MEANING OF THE NAME JUDAH

The Hebrew name Yehuda likely comes from the Hebrew word yadah – praise. In fact, his mother, Leah, specifically says that she will “praise the Lord” for this son.

In the Old Testament, Judah is one of Jacob’s twelve sons. He marries Tamar. 

All twelve of Jacob’s son go on to form the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Kingdom of Judah produced some famous figures. Judah is the ancestor of King David, and thus, Jesus himself.

There’s also Judah Maccabee, a Jewish priest who led a revolt during the second century. They revolted against the Seleucid Empire, and, more broadly, against Greek influence on Jewish life. The celebration of Hanukkah tells part of the story of the uprising. 

JUDAS

The Greek form of Judah is Judas, which appears throughout the New Testament.

Judas Iscariot famously betrayed Jesus during the Last Supper. 

Maybe not surprisingly, Judas has become a synonym for betrayal, and has been used rarely as a given name, at least in the US.

THE LION OF JUDAH

Back to the Book of Genesis for a minute. Jacob refers to his son as a “young lion.” The Lion of Judah thus became a symbol of the tribe, and, by extension, Jerusalem, too.

In the New Testament, the lion of Judah is associated with Judah. 

(A quick side quest for fans of CS Lewis: the figure of Aslan was inspired by this symbol.)

The symbol also became associated with Ethiopia, dating to the Middle Ages. A lion has appeared on various flags used by the former Ethiopian Empire.

Which takes us all the way up to Jamaica, circa the 1930s. The Rastafari movement has Christian roots, but also incorporates specific cultural practices. Former Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie, is sometimes considered a messiah figure and often called the Lion of Judah.

Bob Marley recorded a song titled “Lion of Judah” and the symbol appears in the recent 2024 biopic, Bob Marley: One Love. 

HEY JUDE

Speaking of music, there’s a far more famous song to feature a form of the name. The Beatles recorded “Hey Jude” in 1968.

Paul McCartney wrote the song for John Lennon’s son, Julian: “Hey Jules.” Except Jude sounded better. The song became a sensation, reaching #1 in the US and the UK.

While we might think of Jude as a nickname for Judas and Judah, it’s really just another form of the name. In terms of popularity, it’s long been the most common form in the US.

BEN-HUR

So what helped Judah transform from ancient times to today?

In 1880, Lew Wallace published a novel titled Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. It’s the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince falsely accused of a crime. He ultimately redeems himself as an expert chariott racer. Along the way, he meets Jesus, witnesses the crucixion, and converts.

The book became a runaway bestseller for decades, and was adapated first for the stage, then as a silent movie, and finally as a Hollywood blockbuster. 

The 1959 film starred Charlton Heston; he earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his work. (It also won Best Picture, Best Director, and eight more.) 

It’s possible that Ben-Hur – and Heston – get credit for some of the name’s popularity during the mid-twentieth century. Though we tend to think of the character as first name, Ben, last name Hur. And Judah? Really wasn’t that popular just yet.

BY the NUMBERS

Instead, the baby name Judah debuted in the US Top 1000 in 1997.

Other boys’ names with Biblical roots and an A ending were having a moment. Joshua already ranked in the US Top Ten. Noah, Elijah, and Isaiah were gaining fast. 

By the year 2010, the name ranked #295. And in 2020, Judah stood at #184.

Along the way, more boy names ending with A have risen in use. Others borrowed from the Bible, like Josiah and Ezra, are among them. So are romance language choices like Luca, as well as word names like Nova.

Another factor? Former favorite baby girl names Judy and Judith are solidly out of favor. With the passing of time, Jude and Judah have come to sound fresh and interesting for our sons. 

Along the way, the name’s profile rose modestly in popular culture. Comedian Judah Friedlander was part of the 30 Rock ensemble cast. Folk rock band Judah & The Lion – fronted by a singer named Judah Akers – enjoyed some succeess. And celebrities gave the name to their children, including actress Lucy Lawless’ son Judah Miro, and singer Isaac Slade’s son Judah Alexander. 

TRENDING TRADITIONAL

With roots in the Hebrew Bible, it’s impossible to consider Judah a new name. 

And yet, it’s popularity is relatively recent, tracing back to the late twentieth century and really accelerating over the last decade or two. 

At the same time, we’ve always loved J names for our sons. Enduring classics John, James, and Joseph stand the test of time, even as names like Jody and Jayden rise and fall.

It all makes Judah a strong choice for a son, a little more sound than just Jude, with layers of meaning and story, from history to faith to music, to make this name meaningful. 

What do you think of the baby name Judah?

First published on May 6, 2011, this post was revised on May 1, 2024.