Fun Facts About the Name Judy
- An established favorite: Judy held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 30 consecutive years, from 1937 through 1966.
- More than 384 thousand babies named Judy: U.S. records list 384,070 babies given the name Judy from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,094 boys received the name Judy - about 1 boy for every 350 girls.
What Does the Name Judy Mean?
Judy is an English pet form of Judith, and its meaning comes from that older name. Judith derives from the Hebrew Yehudit, the feminine form of Yehudi, meaning "Jew" or "Judean"; Yehudi in turn comes from Yehudah (Judah). Taken literally, the name means "woman of Judea" or "Jewish woman." A customary interpretation, "praised," connects Yehudah with the Hebrew root y-d-h, "to praise or give thanks" (the root behind Leah's words in Genesis 29:35). That sense is a traditional reading rather than the literal sense of Yehudit.
Judy Name History & Origins
The name Judith appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of a wife of Esau, Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite (Genesis 26:34). It is also the name of the central figure in the Book of Judith, a deuterocanonical (Catholic and Orthodox) text not included in the Hebrew Bible or the Protestant canon, in which a widow saves her besieged town by killing the Assyrian general Holofernes. That story helped keep the name in use among Jews and later among Christians. Judith was used in medieval Europe and came into English use in the Middle Ages.
Judy arose as an English diminutive of Judith, formed with the familiar -y ending. It has long been familiar from the puppet show Punch and Judy, in which Punch's wife was originally called Joan and later became known as Judy; this is a well-known popular use of the name, not its origin. In the 20th century Judy was widely used as an independent given name in English-speaking countries, as in the case of the American performer Judy Garland.
How Popular is the Name Judy?
Judy remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1937 to 1966. Its highest annual birth count was in 1947, and people born that year turn 79 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,874 | 105 | 0.0065% |
| 2024 | #1,653 | 124 | 0.0077% |
| 2023 | #1,618 | 129 | 0.0080% |
| 2022 | #1,712 | 122 | 0.0074% |
| 2021 | #1,686 | 123 | 0.0075% |
| 2020 | #1,582 | 133 | 0.0082% |
| 2019 | #1,490 | 147 | 0.0088% |
| 2018 | #1,522 | 143 | 0.0084% |
| 2017 | #1,616 | 134 | 0.0078% |
| 2016 | #1,536 | 147 | 0.0083% |
| 2015 | #1,443 | 160 | 0.0090% |
| 2014 | #1,512 | 146 | 0.0082% |
| 2013 | #1,457 | 153 | 0.0087% |
| 2012 | #1,724 | 120 | 0.0068% |
| 2011 | #2,061 | 94 | 0.0053% |
| 2010 | #1,707 | 123 | 0.0069% |
| 2009 | #1,892 | 111 | 0.0060% |
| 2008 | #1,831 | 118 | 0.0062% |
| 2007 | #1,571 | 144 | 0.0075% |
| 2006 | #1,667 | 127 | 0.0067% |
| 2005 | #1,458 | 146 | 0.0079% |
| 2004 | #1,282 | 167 | 0.0091% |
| 2003 | #1,310 | 158 | 0.0086% |
| 2002 | #1,233 | 163 | 0.0091% |
| 2001 | #1,256 | 157 | 0.0087% |
| 2000 | #1,089 | 190 | 0.0105% |
| 1999 | #1,040 | 196 | 0.0110% |
| 1998 | #995 | 203 | 0.0115% |
| 1997 | #928 | 214 | 0.0123% |
| 1996 | #845 | 236 | 0.0135% |
| 1995 | #770 | 262 | 0.0149% |
| 1994 | #830 | 243 | 0.0136% |
| 1993 | #767 | 269 | 0.0149% |
| 1992 | #656 | 341 | 0.0185% |
| 1991 | #712 | 297 | 0.0158% |
| 1990 | #576 | 402 | 0.0212% |
| 1989 | #594 | 363 | 0.0197% |
| 1988 | #536 | 408 | 0.0229% |
| 1987 | #511 | 411 | 0.0236% |
| 1986 | #504 | 415 | 0.0242% |
| 1985 | #462 | 460 | 0.0267% |
| 1984 | #413 | 514 | 0.0305% |
| 1983 | #414 | 521 | 0.0312% |
| 1982 | #375 | 614 | 0.0363% |
| 1981 | #381 | 603 | 0.0361% |
| 1980 | #408 | 549 | 0.0331% |
| 1979 | #405 | 535 | 0.0333% |
| 1978 | #382 | 553 | 0.0361% |
| 1977 | #349 | 632 | 0.0412% |
| 1976 | #350 | 614 | 0.0419% |
| 1975 | #306 | 749 | 0.0514% |
| 1974 | #276 | 927 | 0.0632% |
| 1973 | #246 | 1,032 | 0.0708% |
| 1972 | #222 | 1,261 | 0.0829% |
| 1971 | #196 | 1,523 | 0.0915% |
| 1970 | #177 | 1,828 | 0.1046% |
| 1969 | #162 | 2,003 | 0.1187% |
| 1968 | #142 | 2,269 | 0.1383% |
| 1967 | #120 | 2,798 | 0.1695% |
| 1966 | #97 | 3,510 | 0.2074% |
| 1965 | #86 | 4,242 | 0.2403% |
| 1964 | #74 | 5,531 | 0.2919% |
| 1963 | #70 | 6,134 | 0.3183% |
| 1962 | #63 | 7,060 | 0.3590% |
| 1961 | #58 | 7,918 | 0.3923% |
| 1960 | #48 | 8,859 | 0.4382% |
| 1959 | #41 | 9,884 | 0.4885% |
| 1958 | #36 | 10,837 | 0.5387% |
| 1957 | #38 | 10,544 | 0.5156% |
| 1956 | #35 | 10,197 | 0.5079% |
| 1955 | #32 | 10,376 | 0.5307% |
| 1954 | #29 | 11,632 | 0.5990% |
| 1953 | #27 | 12,736 | 0.6770% |
| 1952 | #26 | 13,632 | 0.7351% |
| 1951 | #26 | 14,016 | 0.7783% |
| 1950 | #25 | 14,207 | 0.8293% |
| 1949 | #20 | 15,979 | 0.9340% |
| 1948 | #16 | 17,705 | 1.0428% |
| 1947 | #14 | 21,036 | 1.1866% |
| 1946 | #11 | 20,478 | 1.3033% |
| 1945 | #13 | 17,001 | 1.3007% |
| 1944 | #12 | 17,119 | 1.2898% |
| 1943 | #13 | 17,383 | 1.2458% |
| 1942 | #15 | 15,667 | 1.1599% |
| 1941 | #16 | 13,967 | 1.1561% |
| 1940 | #16 | 11,383 | 0.9954% |
| 1939 | #28 | 8,081 | 0.7369% |
| 1938 | #41 | 4,992 | 0.4524% |
| 1937 | #91 | 2,741 | 0.2576% |
| 1936 | #118 | 1,987 | 0.1910% |
| 1935 | #143 | 1,474 | 0.1406% |
| 1934 | #184 | 960 | 0.0919% |
| 1933 | #228 | 727 | 0.0721% |
| 1932 | #259 | 588 | 0.0551% |
| 1931 | #321 | 395 | 0.0371% |
| 1930 | #342 | 366 | 0.0325% |
| 1929 | #386 | 302 | 0.0270% |
| 1928 | #432 | 245 | 0.0212% |
| 1927 | #399 | 295 | 0.0247% |
| 1926 | #368 | 337 | 0.0284% |
| 1925 | #389 | 312 | 0.0256% |
| 1924 | #420 | 276 | 0.0221% |
| 1923 | #448 | 231 | 0.0191% |
| 1922 | #460 | 223 | 0.0186% |
| 1921 | #482 | 205 | 0.0166% |
| 1920 | #483 | 201 | 0.0168% |
| 1919 | #527 | 169 | 0.0150% |
| 1918 | #595 | 143 | 0.0124% |
| 1917 | #583 | 136 | 0.0126% |
| 1916 | #626 | 117 | 0.0112% |
| 1915 | #728 | 84 | 0.0085% |
| 1914 | #703 | 68 | 0.0089% |
| 1913 | #731 | 52 | 0.0083% |
| 1912 | #702 | 52 | 0.0093% |
| 1911 | #709 | 38 | 0.0091% |
| 1910 | #803 | 29 | 0.0073% |
| 1909 | #715 | 32 | 0.0092% |
| 1908 | #1,062 | 15 | 0.0045% |
| 1907 | #1,112 | 13 | 0.0041% |
| 1906 | #1,072 | 13 | 0.0044% |
| 1905 | #1,078 | 13 | 0.0045% |
| 1904 | #978 | 14 | 0.0051% |
| 1903 | #1,101 | 11 | 0.0042% |
| 1902 | #833 | 18 | 0.0068% |
| 1901 | #1,042 | 11 | 0.0046% |
| 1900 | #1,136 | 12 | 0.0040% |
| 1899 | #954 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1898 | #1,029 | 12 | 0.0046% |
| 1897 | #953 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1896 | #1,710 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1895 | #1,019 | 11 | 0.0047% |
| 1894 | #1,103 | 9 | 0.0040% |
| 1893 | #926 | 11 | 0.0052% |
| 1892 | #1,362 | 6 | 0.0028% |
| 1891 | #919 | 10 | 0.0054% |
| 1890 | #1,148 | 7 | 0.0037% |
| 1889 | #1,207 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| 1886 | #799 | 9 | 0.0062% |
| 1885 | #983 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1884 | #1,089 | 5 | 0.0039% |
| 1882 | #972 | 5 | 0.0046% |
| 1881 | #885 | 5 | 0.0054% |
| 1880 | #883 | 5 | 0.0055% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | #6,836 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #6,523 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #5,447 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #5,965 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #4,009 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #6,849 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #6,744 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #6,328 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #4,555 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,121 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #3,064 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #3,518 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #2,448 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,779 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,663 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,412 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #1,929 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #2,547 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #1,871 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1963 | #1,926 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #1,733 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #1,914 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #1,642 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #1,607 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1958 | #1,930 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,419 | 31 | 0.0014% |
| 1956 | #1,698 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #1,496 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #1,576 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #1,465 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1952 | #1,778 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #1,232 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1950 | #1,451 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1949 | #1,219 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1948 | #1,028 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 1947 | #1,222 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1946 | #1,066 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 1945 | #923 | 49 | 0.0036% |
| 1944 | #836 | 57 | 0.0042% |
| 1943 | #927 | 52 | 0.0036% |
| 1942 | #872 | 57 | 0.0041% |
| 1941 | #773 | 65 | 0.0053% |
| 1940 | #987 | 43 | 0.0037% |
| 1939 | #1,078 | 36 | 0.0033% |
| 1938 | #1,588 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #2,272 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1936 | #3,025 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #3,919 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #4,040 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #4,287 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Judy
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Judy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Judy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Judy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.