Jude

[sebsmama]

Is Jude (for a boy) a real name in its own right, or is it short for something?
DH and I really like it but I don't know if it is a 'whole name', iyswim!
Anyone know?

Love it. AFAIK it's a name in its own right.

it's become a name in it's own right and a great name. (I'm biased as I have one )
Jude Think it originates from Judas/Judah.

It makes me think of Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

There's a main character in a Thomas Hardy book called Jude (think the book is 'jude the obscure', I should know, I've read it!)
so I'd say its an accepted name for a boy in its own right.

BUT he might get people thinking that he's a Judith who are not actually meeting him iyswim.

No, I love it, have a friend called Jude, and the name really suits him

It's definitely a boy's name in its own right and becoming popular. It's the name of the moment round here. I know 3 baby Judes, 2 male, 1 female. It's just slipped into the top 100 and I predict it's going to go up and up.

Thanks all! We are not expecting - DS is only 10m, just thinking ahead to potential number 2. It is def on the top of my list.
Lockets - at your DD calling her friend Dude!
Only thing making me think twice (apart from the fact that there is no iminent baby!!) is that one of my close friends is Judy, usually shortened to Jude, but actually she might well take it as a great compliment!

love it

Really like it, it's on our shortlist, but it's growing popularity's putting me off a bit.

Love it.

Love it - it was on my shortlist for DS. My Dad did say that if we called him Jude he'd never be able to walk into a room again without someone singing 'Hey Jude'... but to be honest, so what? It's a great song!

The only thing I can think of that might not work in its favour is that you may end up calling him Jud-y as a nickname?

Looooovely name, go for it.