Judy
Judy is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Praised or woman from Judea.
Origin and history
Judy is a short form of Judith, originating from the Hebrew name Yehudit, meaning 'woman from Judea' or 'praised'. It was immensely popular in the United States during the mid-20th century and remains a classic, recognizable name. Today, it is used less frequently for newborns but retains strong historic charm.
Popularity in the United States
382,979 babies in the United States have been named Judy since 1880. It ranks #92 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1384.
States where it is most popular
- CA (7.3 %)
- TX (6.6 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
- IL (5.1 %)
- NY (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 41 |
| 1890-1900 | 95 |
| 1900-1910 | 152 |
| 1910-1920 | 888 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,627 |
| 1930-1940 | 22,311 |
| 1940-1950 | 167,719 |
| 1950-1960 | 118,060 |
| 1960-1970 | 50,325 |
| 1970-1980 | 9,654 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,858 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,662 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,481 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,369 |
| 2020-2029 | 737 |
Famous people named Judy
- Judy Garland: Actress, Singer
- Judy Blume: Author
- Judy Greer: Actress
Nicknames
Jude
Fun facts
- Judy ranked among the top 20 most popular girl names in the United States during the late 1930s and 1940s.
- It originally gained widespread use as an informal diminutive for Judith before becoming a independent legal name.