Jude (English)
Where does "Jude" come from?
The English name 'Jude' is a short form of 'Judas', which was adopted to help distinguish the Apostle Judas Thaddaeus from Judas Iscariot[1]. The name traces back through Middle English 'Iudas', Latin 'Iudas', and Ancient Greek 'Ioúdas' to the Hebrew name 'יְהוּדָה' (transliterated as 'yehudá'), which is said to mean 'praised'[1][2].
Open questions
- The etymological meaning of the underlying Hebrew name as praised is traditional and subject to historical interpretation. [1]
Full etymology tree
- Jude (English), 'The second last book of the New Testament of the Bible.'
- derived Judas (English), 'Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve original Apostles of Jesus, known for his role in Jesus' betrayal into the hands of Roman authorities.'
- inherited Iudas (Middle English), 'Judas'
- inherited Iudas (Latin), 'Judas'
- inherited Ἰούδας (Ioúdas) (Ancient Greek), 'Judah, one of the Hebrew patriarchs'
- derived יהודה (y'hudá) (Hebrew), 'a male given name, equivalent to English Judah, Judas, or Jude'
- inherited Ἰούδας (Ioúdas) (Ancient Greek), 'Judah, one of the Hebrew patriarchs'
- inherited Iudas (Latin), 'Judas'
- inherited Iudas (Middle English), 'Judas'
- derived Judas (English), 'Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve original Apostles of Jesus, known for his role in Jesus' betrayal into the hands of Roman authorities.'
Sources
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris