Given name & surname
Judas
“praised”·“one who praises God”
Judas is a form of Judah. Interpretations include “praised” and “one who praises God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original GreekΙουδας
Meaning & origin
What it means
Judas is a form of Judah. Interpretations include “praised” and “one who praises God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Judas is a form of Judah. An origin associated with Judah is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Judas developed from Iudas. In Lithuanian usage, Judas developed from יהודה.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1969. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Judas appears in Luke 6:16, Matthew 10:3, Acts 15:22 and 1 other passage.
- Luke 6:16
- Matthew 10:3
- Acts 15:22
- Acts 15:32
From biblical name research
Judas through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 590
- 590 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 27 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #4,941 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,941 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 480 as a first name in 2020; 148 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Judas’s family of names
In English usage, Judas has a short form in Jude. In English usage, Judas shares an earlier linguistic root with Judah. In Portuguese usage, Judas has a conventional equivalent in the Polish form Juda.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Judas has relatives in 10 languages.
14 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 15
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 22
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Judas
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Judas, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.