Juda

Fact sheet

Name: Juda
Gender: Boy name
Syllables: 2

The name Juda is a biblical first name that has its origin in the ancient Hebrew name Jehuda or Jehudah.

What does the name Juda mean?

Juda is a biblical first name derived from the Hebrew name Jehuda or Jehudah. Its literal meaning is 'the praised one' or 'the exalted one'. The name has its roots in ancient Hebrew and can be traced back to either the word yehûdâh (יְהוּדָה), meaning 'praised' and 'exalted', or to yadâh (יָדָה), meaning 'to praise' and 'to extol'. Furthermore, Juda is also found in Arabic, derived from the word jāda (جاد), which means 'to be excellent' and 'to be good'. This leads to the interpretation 'the Excellent' and 'the Kind'. The name may have also developed secondarily from a geographical designation (cf. Jos 20:7). Judá is the Portuguese and Spanish spelling, while Judà is used in Catalonia. In the New Testament, Judas Iscariot is known as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who became famous for his betrayal of Jesus and the kiss he gave when he informed the chief priests for a reward of thirty pieces of silver. Additionally, Juda in the Bible is the fourth son of Jacob, thus representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name is often considered a feminine form of Judith. Other variations include Yehudah, Yehuda, Judah, Judas, Jude, Giuda, Judel, Yudel, and Yuda, while relevant derivatives are Jehudi and Yehudi.

Where does the name Juda come from?

The name Juda has its roots in ancient Hebrew and Arabic and means 'the praised one'. The ancient Hebrew components are Yəhūḏāh or yehûdâh for 'praised, exalted' or yadâh for 'to praise, to extol'. In Arabic, it derives from jāda, which means 'to be excellent, to be good'. The name is widespread in various languages, including Arabic, Biblical, French, Hebrew, Catalan, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Czech.

How do you pronounce Juda?

The pronunciation of Juda is phonetically open and two-syllable. It is usually pronounced as 'Ju-da' [ˈjuːda], with the first syllable starting with a long U sound that conveys a certain depth. The second syllable, ending with an open A, gives the sound warmth. The gentle ending of the name provides a calm presence. Juda radiates a traditional, clear, and harmonious sound quality.

Popularity

In Germany, Juda is a common first name and currently ranks 4,024th on the list of the most popular male baby names. Its best placement was in 2012 at rank 3,479. Over the last ten years, the name Juda has been used about 10 times as a first name, placing it 6,380th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 6,683rd.

Famous people

Eleasar ben Juda ben Kalonymos (German writer)
Juda Al-Charisi (Spanish writer)
Juda Ben-Hur (lead role in the monumental film Ben Hur)
Juda Goldschmied de Herz (architect)
Juda H. Quastel (English biochemist)
Salomo Juda Rapoport (scholar)

Frequently asked questions about the name Juda

What is the origin of the name Juda?

The name Juda has its roots in ancient Hebrew and Arabic. It is derived from the Hebrew word Yəhūḏāh, meaning 'the praised one', and from the Arabic word jāda, meaning 'to be excellent'.

What does the first name Juda mean?

Juda literally means 'the praised one' or 'the exalted one'. The meaning is derived from the Hebrew words yehûdâh and yadâh, which are associated with 'to praise' and 'to extol'.

How popular is the name Juda?

Juda is a traditional name that is widespread in various cultures and languages. Its popularity may vary regionally, but it is firmly rooted in Jewish and Christian tradition.