Given name & surname
Judy
“woman from Judea”·“jewess”
Judy is a form of Judith. Interpretations include “jewess” and “woman from Judea” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Hebrew use, Judy carries the interpretation “woman from Judea.” Judy is a form of Judith. Interpretations include “jewess” and “woman from Judea” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English use, Judy is used as an affectionate form of Judith.
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
Judy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 384,073
- 1,094 boys · 382,979 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 21,073 babies
- 2025
- 105
- #1,874 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −14%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 105 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,874 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 21,037 in 1947. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 281,131 as a first name in 2020; 6,583 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.
Judy’s family of names
In English usage, Judy is a diminutive of Judith. In English usage, Judy has a related form in Jody. Judy is an affectionate form of Judith.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Judy has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Judithfull form · English
- Jodyvariant · English
- Judeavariant
- Judivariant
- Judievariant · English
- Judyevariant
- Judeyvariant
- Judeevariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Judy
- Judy GarlandAmerican actress, singer, dancer and vaudevillian (1922–1969)
- Judy HollidayAmerican actress, comedian and singer (1921-1965)
- Judy DavisAustralian film, television and stage actressborn 1955
- Judy GreerAmerican actressborn 1975
- Judy ChicagoAmerican artist, author, and teacher (born 1939)
- Judy CollinsAmerican singer-songwriter and musician (born 1939)
- Judy BlumeAmerican children's writer (born 1938)
- Judy SheindlinAmerican television judgeborn 1942
- Judy TylerAmerican actress (1932–1957)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Judy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jeanne
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Janice
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Jodi
Jodi is a feminine given name from French.
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