Judah is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "praise" or "thanksgiving." It is derived from the Hebrew word "yadah," which means to praise or thank. In the Bible, Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and his tribe became one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name has been used throughout history, including by notable figures such as King Herod of Judea and the American musician and actor Judah Friedlander. Today, Judah continues to be a popular choice for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name with deep historical roots.
The name Judah experienced significant growth in popularity from the late 1990s onwards, with a notable spike starting around the year 2000. Before this period, the number of annual births with the name Judah fluctuated between 5 to 16, with a few outliers reaching up to 44 births in 1974. However, from 1999 onwards, the number of yearly births with the name Judah began to rise steadily, reaching over 2000 births per year by 2018 and continuing that trend through 2023.