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The short answer
Jude is a masculine English name that Behind the Name lists as a variant of Judas, used in many English Bible translations for the apostle also called Jude, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. The entry gives a root form ("yaḏa") but no English gloss, and the linked Judas entry is not available in this pass's cached sources, so a literal meaning is not confirmed. Jude has been used occasionally since the Reformation and appears in the title of the Beatles' "Hey Jude" (1968). It is pronounced JOOD. In the United States it ranked #155 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name lists Jude as a "variant of Judas", used in the New Testament to denote the apostle Jude, distinct from Judas Iscariot and traditionally credited as the author of the Epistle of Jude. The entry records a root form, "yaḏa", but does not translate it, and the linked Judas entry is not in this pass's cached source set, so no literal English meaning is confirmed. Jude has occasionally been used as a given name since the Protestant Reformation, and appears in the title of the Beatles' song "Hey Jude" (1968), altered from the original "Hey Jules" written for Julian Lennon.
Editorial confidence: uncertain
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | yaḏa | not verified |
Competing or overlapping origins
- A separate Behind the Name entry lists Jude as a feminine short form of Judith, a distinct Hebrew name meaning "Jewish woman" (behind-name-judith); this profile covers only the masculine, Judas-derived Jude.
Popularity
Jude ranked #155 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #155 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: None documented.
Related names: Judas, Jedidiah
What the name feels like
Jude is a short, one-syllable name with a soft, literary feel, boosted in the popular imagination by the Beatles song "Hey Jude".
Style tags: one syllable, biblical, literary/musical association
Editorial interpretation: This style impression is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Jude's short biblical shape or its sound.
Similar by sound
- Judah
- Jules
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jude mean?
Jude is a variant of Judas. Behind the Name gives a Hebrew root (yaḏa) but no English gloss, so a literal meaning is not confirmed in this pass.
Is Jude a popular name?
Yes. Jude ranked #155 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Is Jude from the Bible?
Yes. It is used in many English New Testament translations for the apostle Jude, traditionally credited as the author of the Epistle of Jude, distinguishing him from Judas Iscariot.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Jude — supports etymology, pronunciation, history.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Jude (2) — supports competingOrigins.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Judith — supports competingOrigins.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
