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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Do you see Jude as a women’s name?

56 replies

JudasPriest · 25/08/2023 11:42

I love the name Jude - it reminds me of my favourite band! But when I mention it to people they always mention it’s a ladies name. Other options are Phoenix or Edwin ‘Eddie’ - a family name.

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ShowOfHands · 25/08/2023 15:21

I know a 13yr old Jude and a Jude in their 30s. Both female.

It might be traditionally male but it will likely end up unisex imo.

Jitterybugs · 25/08/2023 15:17

Jude was one of the 12 Apostles. He was also the patron saint of hopeless cases. That must be why I remember him from my R.E lessons 🤣

Do you see Jude as a women’s name?
mamatoTails · 25/08/2023 15:07

I know a boy Jude, and a girl Jude. Both 9 year olds.

Valerie23 · 25/08/2023 15:07

The only Jude's I've ever met (2) are male.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 25/08/2023 15:05

Male name, or a pet form of Judith.

Lilithlogic · 25/08/2023 14:42

I don't think Judy is that recognisable name for school children to tease anyone about these days

WhatCameFirstTheChickenOrTheDickhead · 25/08/2023 14:41

I've never really thought about it as I know one of each so it's just unisex to me.

VenusClapTrap · 25/08/2023 14:38

I love the name Jude. I’ve known three male and one female. The boys have never been teased - probably because as others have said, female Judes tend to be an older generation, and also fairly rare.

Neverseenbefore · 25/08/2023 14:27

JudasPriest · 25/08/2023 14:06

@sashh I don’t know if Judas would be frowned upon as Judas Iscariot wasn’t a good man in the bible - I’m not religious so I don’t 100% know.

Definitely not Judas. I suppose Judas, Judah and Jude are all the same name, really, but have different implications.

Original poster
JudasPriest · 25/08/2023 14:06

@sashh I don’t know if Judas would be frowned upon as Judas Iscariot wasn’t a good man in the bible - I’m not religious so I don’t 100% know.

OP posts:
StanleyGoodspeed · 25/08/2023 13:42

It is effeminate though, personally I do not like it

Neverseenbefore · 25/08/2023 13:38

Definitely a male name.
But could be a short form for Judith.

faban · 25/08/2023 13:31

It's absolutely a man's name imo

SquirrelFeeder · 25/08/2023 13:22

Yes I'd see it as a female name. Short for Judith

WaltzingWaters · 25/08/2023 12:32

No. I see Jude very much as a male name. I knew one female Jude (not sure if nn or not) but it never sounded right.

Sandysandwich · 25/08/2023 12:32

Only know it as a mans name,
Although I know a Judith who goes by Jude, and it suits her, it still seems like a mans name.
Like Alex may be short for Alexandra but Alex is still more likely to be a man

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/08/2023 12:31

This thread really shows the problem with asking adults about baby name trends. Jude is a pretty popular boys’ name and is rising steadily (#40 in 2021) and anyone born in the last ten-fifteen years is much more likely to think of it as a boys’ name. Their parents, on the other hand, are more likely to think of mid-century Judiths who use Jude as a diminutive. Jude as a given name for girls is rare.

Vetoncall · 25/08/2023 12:30

I have a very good friend who is Judith but always known as Jude, I think of it as a unisex name.

caringcarer · 25/08/2023 12:22

Jude is a male name and Judy or Judith female.

HardcoreLadyType · 25/08/2023 12:22

Pebblepaint · 25/08/2023 12:14

I always thought of it as a women's name because I assumed Hey Jude is about a woman. Is it?

I don't think I've ever met a Jude and the only real person who comes to mind is Jude Bellingham, a man.

Hey Jude was written for Julian Lennon about his relationship with his father’s new partner, Yoko Ono.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/08/2023 12:21

Pebblepaint · 25/08/2023 12:14

I always thought of it as a women's name because I assumed Hey Jude is about a woman. Is it?

I don't think I've ever met a Jude and the only real person who comes to mind is Jude Bellingham, a man.

No, it’s definitely written for a man (‘remember to let her into your heart / then you can start to make it better’).

McCartney wrote it for Julian Lennon when his parents (ie John and Cynthia Lennon) were separating and it was originally Hey Jules. He changed it to Jude because he thought it sounded better.

YawnyMcdawny · 25/08/2023 12:18

I think unisex.

FightingFate · 25/08/2023 12:17

My friends mum is called Judith but gets called Judy or Jude for short.

But Jude is a boys name, one of my children had 3 in his school year.

Comefromaway · 25/08/2023 12:15

It's a man's name. I don't know any female Jude's but I know of a few male.

redrighthand83 · 25/08/2023 12:15

I know two women called Jude. To me, its unisex.