UK name, mostly girls
Jodi
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "a pair" or "twins".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jodi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Jodi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4686, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 90 births.
This profile covers 826 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 4% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,510 living people in the UK are called Jodi. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jodi ranked #4686 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 90 girls were registered as Jodi.
- • Jodi ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #434 in 2018.
- • About 1,510 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jodi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 94.8% of Jodi registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4686
2019
Births in 2019
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
90 births
Estimated living
1,510
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Jodi
In England and Wales birth records, Jodi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 5.2% of registrations are for boys and 94.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Jodi registered for boys
- Ranked #4,608 in 2020
- 3 boys registered in 2020
- Peak: 2002 (7 births)
Jodi registered for girls
- Ranked #4,686 in 2019
- 4 girls registered in 2019
- Peak: 1997 (90 births)
Meaning
What does Jodi mean?
The name Jodi has its roots in several cultures and languages, with varying meanings and origins. In Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, the name Jodi is derived from the word "jyoti," which means "light" or "radiance." This connection to light and brightness has made the name a popular choice among Hindus.
In Hebrew, the name Jodi is a variant of the biblical name Yehudah, which means "praised" or "celebrated." This ties the name to the Jewish tradition and the tribe of Judah. It's possible that the name Jodi came to English-speaking countries through Jewish immigration.
The name Jodi also has ties to Italian culture, where it is a diminutive form of the name Giovanna or Gioacchino. These names have their roots in Hebrew and Greek, respectively, and have been common in Italy for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jodi can be found in the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer, who mentioned a character named Jodi in the Odyssey, written around the 8th century BCE. This suggests that the name has been in use for over two millennia.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Jodi. One of the earliest was Jodi of Todi, an Italian mystic and Franciscan nun who lived in the 13th century. Her writings on mysticism and spirituality were widely influential in her time.
In the 16th century, Jodi Garaja was a renowned Italian painter and architect from Mantua. Her works, including frescoes and architectural designs, can still be seen in various Italian cities.
In the realm of literature, Jodi Picoult, born in 1966, is a celebrated American author known for her novels exploring ethical dilemmas and family dynamics. Her works, such as "My Sister's Keeper" and "The Pact," have achieved critical acclaim and commercial success.
Jodi Benson, born in 1961, is an American actress and singer best known for providing the voice of Ariel in Disney's animated film "The Little Mermaid." Her performance as the iconic mermaid has become a beloved part of popular culture.
Finally, Jodi Arias, born in 1980, is an infamous American criminal who gained notoriety for the brutal murder of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in 2008. Her highly publicized trial and subsequent conviction brought the name into the public spotlight, albeit for tragic reasons.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jodi over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jodi in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jodi, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2019, compared with 90 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jodi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jodi was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4368 | 47 | 9 |
| 2000s | #831 | 455 | 10 |
| 1990s | #396 | 324 | 4 |
Geography
Where Jodi is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Jodi. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Jodi ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #434 in 2018.
Across the UK
Jodi in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#809 in 2018
41 years of NRS records, 606 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#434 in 2018
15 years of NISRA records, 90 total registered
Related
Names similar to Jodi
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Jodi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jodi in the UK right now?
In 2019, Jodi was ranked #4686 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Jodi most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 90 babies registered as Jodi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jodi?
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "a pair" or "twins".
How many people are called Jodi in the UK?
A total of 826 babies have been registered as Jodi across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 606 more in Scotland and 90 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Jodi most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Jodi ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #434 in 2018. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.