יְהוּדָה

Judah

boyHebrewJewishChristian

Judah is a Jewish boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Praised”.

MeaningPraised
GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
Written asיְהוּדָה
PronunciationJOO-duh
TraditionJewish, Christian
Used inIsrael, United States, United Kingdom

Meaning and origin of Judah

Judah comes from the Hebrew Yehudah, linked in Genesis 29:35 to Leah's words 'this time I will praise the Lord' at his birth, so it is understood as 'praised'. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and the ancestor of the tribe of Judah; the kingdom of Judah and the words Jew and Judaism all come from his name. Judah Maccabee led the revolt remembered at Hanukkah. The name has become fashionable in English-speaking countries in recent years.

Is Judah a Jewish name?

Judah is a central Hebrew Bible name: a son of Jacob, the tribe of David's line and the source of the word Jew. It is a traditional Jewish name and is also used by Christian families.

How popular is Judah?

Common in Israel as Yehuda and increasingly popular in the US as Judah.

Gifts with the name Judah

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Spellings and variants of Judah

YehudaJudaJudasJude

Names similar to Judah

More Jewish boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Judah mean?

Judah means 'Praised'. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Judah a Jewish name?

Judah is a central Hebrew Bible name: a son of Jacob, the tribe of David's line and the source of the word Jew. It is a traditional Jewish name and is also used by Christian families.

How do you pronounce Judah?

Judah is pronounced JOO-duh.

Is Judah a boy or girl name?

Judah is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.