Judah means praised — the patriarch who gave his name to Judaism itself, to Judea, to the Jewish people. The Lion of Judah is one of the most powerful symbols in both Judaism and Rastafarian culture. Judah Maccabee led the revolt that gave us Hanukkah. Two syllables that carry an entire people, a lion, and the Festival of Lights.
Judah comes from the Hebrew Yehudah, meaning praised. Judah was Jacob's fourth son, whose tribe became the most powerful of the twelve, eventually giving its name to Judaism, Judea, and the Jewish people. The Lion of Judah is a central symbol in Judaism and Rastafarian culture. Judah Maccabee led the revolt against the Seleucid Empire, and the rededication of the Temple is celebrated as Hanukkah. The name has surged in the US, successfully distinguished from Judas.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — Genesis 29:35, where Leah names her son Judah.
3
Today
Judah remains a beloved choice, ranking #196 in the US. 34,301 babies have been named Judah since 1912.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Genesis 29:35, SSA data
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How popular is Judah?
2021peak year
The name Judah reached its peak in 2021, with 2,133 registrations (ranked #182). The name has actually been around since 1912 — over a century — though it took until recently to find its widest audience. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #196 today, averaging about 2,026 new babies per year. Judah's usage has held roughly steady recently. Across all years on record, approximately 34,301 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,133 Babies named in peak year (ranked #182)
2,026Avg. per year (last decade)
20,260Total registrations last 10 years
34,301All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #196)Very popular
Judah's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — leading an entire people. People named Judah tend to be praised, courageous, and capable of founding things that define civilisations.
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Founds civilisations
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Lion-hearted courage
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Praised by all
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Hanukkah fire
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Names entire peoples
J1
U3
D4
A1
H8
Sum: 17 → Life path 8
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Personality of Judah
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Built for success
They don't dream of achievement — they plan for it.
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Commanding presence
They walk in and people notice.
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Strategic mind
Always three moves ahead.
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Unbreakable
Setbacks sharpen them. Resilience is in their DNA.
Every name has a homeland. Discover strong boy names rooted in cultures from around the world — each with full meanings, origin stories and pronunciation.