Meaning: Its source is Yehudah, a Hebrew name meaning "Praise."

Nickname For: Judah

Source Forms: Yehudah

Popularity: The name Jude ranked 565th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1114th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Meaning: Its source is Yehudith, a Hebrew name meaning "Jewish woman."

Nickname For: Judith and Judy

Popularity: The name Jude ranked 3322nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: Another possible meaning is ''He (God) will be praised.''

In the Book of Judith, an apocryphal (or unofficial) scriptural writing, the title character is a Jewish woman who risks her life to save her people.

Judith's village is on the road to Jerusalem. A gigantic Assyrian army under general Holofernes has beseiged it, and things are going poorly for the vilagers. Judith approaches the enemy camp and uses her beauty and charm to ingratiate herself with Holofernes. He invites her to a banquet, where he over-imbibes. She creeps up on the sleeping soldier, draws his sword, and cuts off his head.

Returning to her people, Judith encourages the garrison to make a sortie. The leaderless Assyrians flee before the attacking Jews, never to return in Judith's lifetime.