Given name & surname
Judd
“flowing down”·“praised”·“one who praises God”
In English use, Judd is an affectionate form of Jordan. One interpretation is “flowing down.” Judd is a variant of Judah. Interpretations include “praised” and “one who praises God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Judd is an affectionate form of Jordan. One interpretation is “flowing down.” Judd is a variant 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
In English use, Judd is an affectionate form of Jordan. An origin associated with Jordan is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Judd is an affectionate form of Jordan. In English usage, Judd is a short form of Jordan.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Judd through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,746
- 5,746 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 158 babies
- 2025
- 96
- #1,704 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +21%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 96 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,704 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 20.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 158 in 1970. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,329 as a first name in 2020; 17,539 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.
Judd’s family of names
Judd is an affectionate form of Jordan. Judd has a related form in Judah. In English usage, Judd is a short form of Jordan.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Judd
- Judd TrumpEnglish snooker playerborn 1989
- Judd ApatowAmerican comedian and filmmaker (born 1967)
- Judd HirschAmerican actorborn 1935
- Judd NelsonAmerican actorborn 1959
- Judd GreggAmerican politicianborn 1947
- Judd WinickAmerican writerborn 1970
- Judd HoldrenAmerican actor (1915-1974)
- Judd MarmorAmerican psychiatrist (1910–2003)
- Judd GreenBritish actor (1866-1932)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Judd, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jed
“beloved of God”
>99% boys
Chad
“one who is warlike”
>99% boys
Jermaine
“woman from Germany” · “a man from Germany”
>99% boys
Jon
“God has given” · “a gift of God”
>99% boys
Josh
“God . is salvation” · “God is salvation”
>99% boys
Jens
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Todd
“resembling a fox”
>99% boys
Brent
“from the hill”
>99% boys