NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Jud

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "he shall be praised".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Jud is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jud popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2016 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Jud. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Jud ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 3 boys were registered as Jud.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jud as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Jud mean?

The name Jud has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is a diminutive form of the name Judah, which is derived from the Hebrew word "Yehudah," meaning "praised" or "celebrated."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jud can be found in the Bible, where Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the eponymous ancestor of the Tribe of Judah. The name gained significance in the biblical narrative, as it was through the line of Judah that the Messiah was prophesied to come.

Throughout history, the name Jud has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Jud Sirik, a 7th-century Armenian prince and military leader who played a pivotal role in defending his homeland against the Arab invasion.

In the 13th century, Jud ben Moses ha-Kohen was a renowned Jewish philosopher and astronomer from Toledo, Spain. His works contributed significantly to the advancement of astronomy and influenced the development of scientific thought during the Middle Ages.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Jud Critchett was a prominent Puritan minister and chaplain who supported the Parliamentary cause against the Royalists. His sermons and writings were influential in shaping the religious and political discourse of the time.

In the realm of literature, Jud Süß, also known as Joseph Süß Oppenheimer, was a Jewish banker and court Jew in 18th-century Württemberg, Germany. His life and controversial trial served as the inspiration for the novel "Jud Süß" by Wilhelm Hauff, published in 1827.

Another notable figure bearing the name Jud was Jud Fry, an American outlaw and gunfighter who lived in the late 19th century. Fry gained notoriety for his involvement in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico and was known for his skill with a gun.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who carried the name Jud, highlighting its enduring presence across diverse cultures, professions, and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jud over time

The chart below shows babies named Jud registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Jud, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Jud
01223201620192023

Decades

Jud by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jud 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
2020s #4991 3 1
2010s #4810 3 1

Related

Names similar to Jud

FAQ

Jud: questions and answers

How popular is the name Jud in the UK right now?

In 2023, Jud was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Jud most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 3 babies registered as Jud in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jud?

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "he shall be praised".

How many people are called Jud in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Jud across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.