A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Judge since 1880
Babies named Judge per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Judge's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 201 |
| 1890s | 177 |
| 1900s | 185 |
| 1910s | 461 |
| 1920s | 549 |
| 1930s | 393 |
| 1940s | 301 |
| 1950s | 277 |
| 1960s | 135 |
| 1970s | 113 |
| 1980s | 107 |
| 1990s | 153 |
| 2000s | 207 |
| 2010s | 294 |
| 2020s | 273 |
Meaning & origin
The name Judge is an occupational name turned given name, reflecting the American tradition of using surnames and titles as first names. It first appeared on the U.S. charts in 1880 and peaked in 1891. After declining through much of the 20th century, it has been rising steadily since 1990, entering a new era of appreciation. In 2025, its rank of 2,641 and 1-in-34,859 rate show it remains rare but growing. The name is most popular in Texas. Judge fits a modern trend toward strong, authority-evoking word names, but its true historical roots lie in the 19th-century custom of naming boys for respected community roles.
The name Judge derives directly from the English occupational surname and title, itself from the Old French 'juge' and Latin 'judex'. It was occasionally used as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in the American South, often to honor a family member with that title. The usage has seen a modest revival in recent decades as part of the trend toward virtue and occupational names.
Where Judge is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Juge
Sibling names for Judge
Names that share Judge's style, for a brother or sister.
