Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Judy
GirlHebrew, English· “short for Judith, woman of Judea”
- Meaning
- short for Judith, woman of Judea
- Origin
- Hebrew, English
- Pronunciation
- JOO-dee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,874
- US babies 2025
- 105
- Best rank
- #11 (1946)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Judy
Judy is a Hebrew and English name that means “short for Judith, woman of Judea”.
Judy began as a pet form of Judith, a Hebrew name meaning "woman of Judea" or "Jewish woman." In the Book of Judith, part of the Catholic and Orthodox Bible, the heroine saves her people by defeating the general Holofernes. Judy became a name in its own right in the twentieth century, carried by stars such as Judy Garland, who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Today it has a cheerful, mid-century feel, and some parents choose Judith as the formal name with Judy for everyday use.
Other spellings with the same sound: Judi.
Popularity over time
Judy has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 101 different years. Its best national rank was #11 in 1946, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 21,037 were named Judy. In 2025, 105 babies were named Judy, and it ranked #1,874 nationally. That is 34% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #483 in 1920, #25 in 1950, #408 in 1980, #1,089 in 2000, #1,707 in 2010, and #1,874 in 2025. Of the 382,979 US girls named Judy since records began, 44% were born in the 1940s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 118,060 babies. Since 2010, 2,106 more have been named Judy.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Carolyn, Sharon, Gloria, Marilyn, and Martha.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Judy ranked highest in Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | #818 | 9 |
| New Jersey | #1086 | 6 |
| New York | #1118 | 13 |
| Ohio | #1569 | 5 |
| Georgia | #1649 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Judy is usually pronounced JOO-dee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-dy”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Judi.
Middle names for Judy
A few middle names that flow with Judy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Judy
Similar names
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WEHN-dee
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SIN-dee
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JA-nihs
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Janie Girl
JAY-nee
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Betsy Girl
BET-see
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MAN-dee
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Tammy Girl
TAM-ee
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GOHL-dee
“golden; also form of Yiddish Golda” · English
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Lists that include Judy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Judy mean?
Judy is a Hebrew and English name that means “short for Judith, woman of Judea”.
What is the origin of the name Judy?
Judy has Hebrew and English roots. Judy began as a pet form of Judith, a Hebrew name meaning "woman of Judea" or "Jewish woman." In the Book of Judith, part of the Catholic and Orthodox Bible, the heroine saves her people by defeating the general Holofernes.
Is Judy a popular name?
Not especially. Judy ranked #1,874 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Judy a boy or girl name?
Judy is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Judy?
Judy is usually pronounced JOO-dee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings