ChatGPT
Claude
Gemini
Perplexity
The short answer
Judah comes from the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehuḏa), probably derived from יָדָה (yaḏa), "praise." Behind the Name identifies Judah as the fourth of Jacob's twelve sons in the Old Testament, ancestor of the tribe of Judah and the Kingdom of Judah, and an ancestor of King David and Jesus. The name was also borne by Judah Maccabee, the 2nd-century BC Jewish priest who led a revolt against Seleucid rule. It is pronounced JOO-də. In the United States, Judah ranked #178 among boys' names in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name derives Judah from Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Yehuḏa), "probably derived from יָדָה (yaḏa) meaning 'praise.'" The entry notes Genesis 29:35 offers an explanation for the name, and traces its bearers from the patriarch Judah through the tribe and kingdom named for him to Judah Maccabee, the priest who revolted against Seleucid rule as told in the Books of Maccabees. The entry also notes the name appears in the New Testament in the related spellings Judas and Jude.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | yaḏa | praise |
Popularity
Judah ranked #178 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to db/list-batch.mjs's SSA 2025 figures, matching the rank in the cached Behind the Name snapshot for the same year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #178 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: None documented.
Related names: Judas, Jude, Jacob
What the name feels like
Judah carries the weight of Old Testament patriarchal names like Jacob and Isaac while sounding fresh and slightly unusual in modern English use, giving it both gravity and distinctiveness.
Style tags: biblical, patriarchal, two syllables, strong sound
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial opinion, not documented etymological fact. Behind the Name records history rather than a style classification.
If you like this name
Other Old Testament patriarch names, or names in the wider Judah/Judas/Jude family.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Judah mean?
Judah probably derives from the Hebrew yaḏa, meaning "praise."
Who was Judah in the Bible?
Judah was the fourth of Jacob's twelve sons by Leah, ancestor of the tribe of Judah and the Kingdom of Judah, and an ancestor of King David and Jesus.
Is Judah a popular name?
Yes. Judah ranked #178 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Judah — supports etymology, pronunciation, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
