Judith is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew word "y'dud," which means "praised." It has been popular throughout history and across cultures, appearing in various forms such as Jude, Judie, and Juditha. The name gained prominence through the apocryphal Book of Judith, where it is the title character's name. This heroine, a beautiful and devout widow, played a significant role in saving her people from their enemies by beheading Holofernes, an Assyrian general. The name Judith thus carries associations with courage, intelligence, and faith.
"Judith was quite popular as a girl's name from the late 1930s to the early 1940s, with over 75 births each year between 1938 and 1942, peaking at 91 births in 1941. However, its popularity sharply declined post-WWII, falling below 25 births per year from 1947 onwards, with the lowest being just 5 births in 1993. Over nearly six decades (1930-1989), there were a total of 1241 babies named Judith."