A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Judd since 1880
Babies named Judd per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 8 |
| 1910s | 81 |
| 1920s | 160 |
| 1930s | 178 |
| 1940s | 302 |
| 1950s | 413 |
| 1960s | 535 |
| 1970s | 1,181 |
| 1980s | 686 |
| 1990s | 339 |
| 2000s | 433 |
| 2010s | 761 |
| 2020s | 654 |
Meaning & origin
Judd is a concise, surname-style name with a sound that feels both familiar and distinctive. It ranked as high as 1699 in 2025, experiencing a revival after a period of decline. The name's peak popularity occurred in 1973, and it has been rising again since 2001. Judd was most common in Utah, Tennessee, and Indiana, suggesting a regional appeal in the U.S. Its simplicity and strong consonant ending give it a no-frills, grounded quality that aligns with modern trends toward short, standalone names.
Judd originated as a medieval English diminutive of Jordan, which itself derives from the Hebrew Yarden (the river Jordan). By the 19th century, Judd was also used as a surname (from Judd, a pet form of Jordan). As a given name, it saw modest use in the United States from the 1880s onward, with a peak in the 1970s.
Where Judd is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jud
Variants: Jud, Judah (separate name)
Sibling names for Judd
Names that share Judd's style, for a brother or sister.
