Jude
Say it: JOOD/ˈd͡ʒuːd/
Boy and boyMeans usually explained as "praised"4 letters1 syllable
#61
in Ireland (2025)
#63 with spellings combined
91
babies in 2025
#63
best rank (2025)
1,152
babies since 1965
Up 124
10-year rank change
Jude through the years
Compare with another name →boysgirls
Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 91 | #63 | - | - |
| 2024 | 71 | #84 | - | - |
| 2023 | 61 | #98 | 4 | #708 |
| 2022 | 52 | #118 | 3 | #881 |
| 2021 | 42 | #142 | - | - |
| 2020 | 25 | #198 | - | - |
| 2019 | 34 | #168 | - | - |
| 2018 | 42 | #144 | - | - |
| 2017 | 32 | #184 | 4 | #736 |
| 2016 | 34 | #173 | - | - |
| 2015 | 32 | #187 | 3 | #895 |
| 2014 | 30 | #193 | - | - |
| 2013 | 33 | #187 | - | - |
| 2012 | 40 | #169 | 3 | #908 |
| 2011 | 33 | #193 | - | - |
| 2010 | 32 | #192 | - | - |
| 2009 | 38 | #163 | - | - |
| 2008 | 31 | #187 | - | - |
| 2007 | 26 | #190 | - | - |
| 2006 | 25 | #180 | 6 | #503 |
| 2005 | 29 | #158 | - | - |
| 2004 | 22 | #171 | - | - |
| 2003 | 23 | #166 | 3 | #655 |
| 2002 | 22 | #168 | - | - |
| 2001 | 8 | #251 | 5 | #441 |
| 2000 | 4 | #347 | - | - |
| 1999 | 4 | #330 | - | - |
| 1997 | 5 | #303 | - | - |
| 1995 | 4 | #301 | - | - |
| 1992 | 4 | #298 | - | - |
| 1989 | 3 | #307 | - | - |
| 1987 | 9 | #203 | - | - |
| 1986 | 3 | #317 | - | - |
| 1984 | 4 | #274 | - | - |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 | - | - |
| 1982 | 5 | #268 | - | - |
| 1981 | 10 | #206 | 4 | #471 |
| 1980 | - | - | 3 | #542 |
| 1979 | 10 | #211 | - | - |
| 1978 | 5 | #255 | 8 | #348 |
| 1977 | 7 | #234 | 4 | #468 |
| 1976 | 20 | #154 | - | - |
| 1975 | 17 | #168 | - | - |
| 1974 | 12 | #196 | 7 | #340 |
| 1973 | 7 | #238 | 7 | #349 |
| 1972 | 9 | #207 | 10 | #285 |
| 1971 | 8 | #217 | 4 | #417 |
| 1970 | 13 | #173 | - | - |
| 1969 | 10 | #187 | 14 | #231 |
| 1968 | 11 | #167 | - | - |
| 1967 | 26 | #110 | - | - |
| 1966 | 14 | #139 | 7 | #276 |
| 1965 | 16 | #129 | - | - |
| 1964 | - | - | 9 | #234 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Jude mean?
Usually explained as "praised"
Hebrew, a short form of Judas, from Yehudah (Judah).
Say it right
JOOD
The story of Jude
Jude is a short form of Judas, which comes through Greek from the Hebrew Yehudah, the name English knows as Judah. It is usually explained as “praised”. English Bibles use Jude for the apostle Judas Thaddeus, partly to keep him apart from Judas Iscariot, and the short New Testament letter of Jude carries the name too.
As Saint Jude he became the patron saint of lost causes. The Beatles song Hey Jude, from 1968, made the name familiar far beyond church circles.
In Ireland Jude was given in small numbers through the 1960s and 1970s, to some girls as well as boys, and then became rare. It returned in the 2000s and has climbed fast since 2020, with its best year yet in 2025: 91 boys and a CSO rank of number 61. It is even more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached 6th in 2024.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Jude (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Jude (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA Baby Names, Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Jude | 91 | 1,152 |
In Northern Ireland
#9 in 2025 with 101 babies. Best rank #6 (2024); 1,825 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Jude is also given to girls: 108 since 1964.