Jody
Jody is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
He will add; praised.
Origin and history
Jody originated as an English diminutive, often serving as a pet form of Joseph or Jude for boys. While popular as a unisex option in the mid-to-late 20th century, its modern usage for boys in the U.S. is relatively rare. It retains a friendly, classic mid-century charm.
Popularity in the United States
31,562 babies in the United States have been named Jody since 1880. It ranks #666 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1664.
States where it is most popular
- TX (11.1 %)
- CA (5.9 %)
- NC (5.5 %)
- LA (5.5 %)
- GA (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 19 |
| 1920-1930 | 97 |
| 1930-1940 | 146 |
| 1940-1950 | 600 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,404 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,271 |
| 1970-1980 | 11,479 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,402 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,417 |
| 2000-2010 | 888 |
| 2010-2019 | 576 |
| 2020-2029 | 263 |
Famous people named Jody
- Jody Scheckter: Formula One Driver, Entrepreneur
- Jody Davis: Baseball Player, Coach
Fun facts
- Jody originally emerged as a familiar pet name for Joseph, Jude, or Judith before becoming an independent given name.
- The name experienced significant popularity for both boys and girls in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.