Is the baby name Judith becoming popular again in the UK?

[NigellaDelia]

I have seen the name Judith suggested quite a few times recently which has really surprised me as the only Judith's I know are over the age of 50 and two are in their 70's.

Is this name beginning to trend? I have a DF called Judy (not Judith!) and she hoped the name would come back when the film about Judy Garland was released in 2019 but this didn't happen

I'm just intrigued as to why this name is so often suggested as, in the past, there have been some quite negative things said about this name choice

My mum loved the name Judith, unfortunately my poor 50 year old sister ( known as Jude since her uni days) doesn’t ! My sister has often asked mum “How on earth could you name a baby Judith, it’s an old lady’s name?!”.
I know she likes Jude though, but still cringes when she has to use her official name .
At school there were about 3 other Judiths in the whole of the high school.

@booksunderthebed , From another thread: 'Also, gently, I have given my children Jewish/Israeli names, and now worry about them encountering problems as a result. '
sums it up better than I can. The name means 'Jewish woman'.

I'm sorry to hear this. It shouldn't be an issue at all 🌸.

When a name previously regarded as either old fashioned or comic starts t make a comeback, it's difficult for those born in eras when the name wasn't popular or had certain connotations to accept its popularity.

I'm not sure Judith is one of those popular names yet. It might just remain on the fringes of popularity. I've got one of those names. I'm extremely thankful to have it as so many of my peers are Tracy, Debbie, Sharon or Karen.

30 years ago, a friend married into a family with what were then considered odd and funny names. Rupert, Jasper, Lucas and Felix. Felix in particular elicited a 'what they were they thinking?' response. It's quite mainstream now.

Around 30 years ago when my daughter started nursery school I was astounded to learn that one of the other three-year-olds was called Audrey. Very much an old lady name then, in spite of Audrey Hepburn. Not now, although I don't think it's ever gone back to being very popular.

@PatriciaRocks , It shouldn't but it doesn't mean it might. It wasn't me who posted it, I only quoted it because I thought it conveyed the possible implications.

@Denim4ever , those names are fine but I'd be surprised to meet a young one. Less so with Judith or Deborah perhaps.

Right, thanks

Which block of names do you mean? I don't think Karen, Sharon, Tracey are in again yet. Deborah maybe but not Debbie or Debra.

Jasper and Rupert are out there in small numbers. Lucas and Felix are very acceptable names now. DS is 20 and knows loads of Lucas' and quite few Felix.

@Denim4ever , I meant Judith, Deborah, Karen, Sharon and Tracey are ok as names but they are not the names of girls or young women currently.

Karen, Sharon and Tracy were very popular but not for long.
Baby names since 1904: how has yours performed? - Office for National Statistics
I'd be very surprised to meet a baby Debra.

@PatriciaRocks , a colleague had 2 sons. When the DS2 was born, the MIL said she didn't approve of Old Testament Jewish names. Colleague said 'What, like Daniel?' (the boys were Daniel and Reuben type names)

Judith is a very pretty name from Biblical times. I wouldn’t compare it with made-up 70s names. I don’t like Judy, and Jude is a male name (which has become popular in recent years) but Judith is lovely.

Samuel, Adam, Isaac (Newton), Joseph, Benjamin, David ...

@crossedlines , Karen, Sharon and Tracy aren't "made-up 70s names".
Tracy is a surname, Sharon is a flower and place named in the Bible, and Karen is a scandinavian form of Katherine. The names became popular in the 1960s.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g , exactly.

Karen is a lovely name I think, it's such a shame how it's been used as an offensive term. Two of the nicest women I know are called Karen.

Karen has been tainted by the use of it as an insulting term.

I think Tracey might be like Wayne or Darren - it would take a lot to bring it back into fashion. Debra is just naff spelling

All those are still in use. They aren't likely to make the top 100 any time soon though.
They were 'celebrity-inspired' names.

Wayne? UK kids? Tracey under 50?

Baby name explorer - see for your self

I know a young Judith, she is a really lovely girl and the name suits her.

I briefly considered Judy for DD (i am a judy garland fan!) But ultimately wasnt quite my style. I would love to meet a baby Judy! Judith is nice but not my cup of tea

I don't put Judith in the same ball park as Valerie and Margaret or even Rosemary. All those would be 80-something names. Judith is with Janet, Karen and Sharon as a 50 or 60-something name.
I know one Judith in real life but three female Judes. Jude and Judi seem nice to me. Judith and Judy less so.

I wouldn't consider Judith a Jewish/Israeli type of name. I would think names such as Ayelet, Lior or Yehudit, Elisheva, Shmuel (rather than Judith, Elizabeth or Samuel) are obviously Jewish or Israeli.

Judith is the anglicized version of Yehudit

Doh! I didn't read your post properly! Ignore me ... 😶‍🌫️

I'm 47 and there was a Judith in my year at school, she's the youngest one I've ever met!
I don't think it's a bad name.

I don't know where you get the idea that Valerie, Margaret and Rosemary are 80-something names. I am 64 and while these names were not common amongst my peers, they were certainly not uncommon. At my school there were not many Judiths but there were one or two, as with the three above. There were a few more Janets, Karens and Sharons, but we had all the classics as well - Elizabeth, Katherine (various spellings), Charlotte, Susan, Jane, Caroline, Rebecca and so on.