Jody
Primarily a girl's name of Hebrew origin with 55,829 recorded births. Also given to 31,520 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Hebrew.
Jody is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a variant of Jodi or Judith or Joseph, derived ultimately from Hebrew roots meaning 'praised' or 'God will increase.' It has historically been used for both boys and girls, functioning as a nickname and standalone name.
With over 31,000 recorded births in U.S. SSA data, Jody has substantial American naming history. It was most popular in the 1950s through 1970s, when it appeared as both a boy's and girl's name. Country singer Jody Messina and other cultural figures have kept it alive. Its soft, friendly sound carries the warmth of a bygone era.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Jody's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Jody breaks from that pattern, giving it a more distinctive edge.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Jody'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
Jody was #3151 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6476, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 96 | #6270 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 231 | #5819 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 448 | #3547 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 1,264 | #1410 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 5,020 | #497 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 16,222 | #178 | — |
| 1960s | 17,669 | #194 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 13,276 | #247 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 1,294 | #816 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 260 | #1603 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 44 | #4100 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | #5166 | — |
The Story of Jody
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1958, Jody is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Jody are most likely born between 1948 and 1968.
How rare is Jody?
Only about 1 in every 200,000 babies born in 2024 was named Jody — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1919, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 17,669 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Jody by the numbers
- More Jodys than the population of a small U.S. town
- Would fill 1,163 school buses
- Meeting one Jody per day would take 153 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(102 years, 1919–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | #6476 |
| 2023 | 21 | #5833 |
| 2022 | 15 | #7436 |
| 2021 | 22 | #5641 |
| 2020 | 20 | #5962 |
| 2019 | 21 | #5878 |
| 2018 | 20 | #6134 |
| 2017 | 18 | #6656 |
| 2016 | 20 | #6275 |
| 2015 | 18 | #6843 |
| 2014 | 25 | #5377 |
| 2013 | 23 | #5732 |
| 2012 | 25 | #5465 |
| 2011 | 38 | #3958 |
| 2010 | 23 | #5869 |
| 2009 | 34 | #4410 |
| 2008 | 31 | #4807 |
| 2007 | 40 | #3947 |
| 2006 | 35 | #4204 |
| 2005 | 38 | #3839 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Jody as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Jody has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 31,520 births since 1910.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jody a boy's or girl's name?
When was Jody most popular?
How popular is the name Jody?
Can Jody be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1919–2024