Jodi
Primarily a girl's name with 79,661 recorded births. Also given to 955 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Alternative form of Jody in its female senses.
Jodi is a girl's and boy's baby name of uncertain origin, generally considered a variant of Jody or a feminine form of Joseph, ultimately from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning 'God will increase.' The -i spelling was a popular stylistic choice in mid-century America.
Jodi was most common in the U.S. from the 1950s through the 1970s, part of a generation of short, upbeat names ending in a long-e sound. It has a cheerful, no-nonsense quality that still feels fresh and familiar decades later.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Jodi's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Jodi follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Jodi's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Jodi was #1752 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3236, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 225 | #3494 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 503 | #3303 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,192 | #1783 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 3,418 | #689 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 11,603 | #249 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 30,353 | #105 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 26,874 | #149 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5,290 | #566 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 203 | #2637 | — |
The Story of Jodi
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Jodi is a Gen X staple. Girls named Jodi are most likely born between 1960 and 1980.
How rare is Jodi?
Only about 1 in every 73,469 babies born in 2024 was named Jodi — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1940, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1970s with 30,353 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Jodi by the numbers
- Enough Jodis to fill 1.1 football stadiums
- More Jodis than the population of a small U.S. town
- Meeting one Jodi per day would take 218.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(85 years, 1940–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49 | #3236 |
| 2023 | 35 | #4147 |
| 2022 | 46 | #3439 |
| 2021 | 51 | #3181 |
| 2020 | 44 | #3466 |
| 2019 | 43 | #3580 |
| 2018 | 45 | #3460 |
| 2017 | 42 | #3660 |
| 2016 | 38 | #3955 |
| 2015 | 43 | #3626 |
| 2014 | 65 | #2700 |
| 2013 | 48 | #3344 |
| 2012 | 57 | #2988 |
| 2011 | 68 | #2623 |
| 2010 | 54 | #3093 |
| 2009 | 69 | #2661 |
| 2008 | 78 | #2453 |
| 2007 | 97 | #2093 |
| 2006 | 100 | #1994 |
| 2005 | 113 | #1749 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Jodi as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Jodi has also been given to 955 boys in the U.S. since 1953.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jodi a boy's or girl's name?
When was Jodi most popular?
How popular is the name Jodi?
Can Jodi be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1940–2024