Yehuda peaked in 2024, ranks #733, and has 7,525 SSA bearers. It's the original Hebrew form of Judah, the patriarch, the tribe, the kingdom,used primarily within observant Jewish communities who prefer the Hebrew form over the anglicized Judah or the Latinized Judas.
The Hebrew Original
Yehuda comes directly from Biblical Hebrew Yəhūdāh, traditionally interpreted as "praise" or "praised" — from the root yadah, to give thanks or praise. In Genesis, Leah names her fourth son Yehuda saying "this time I will praise the Lord." The name gave its identity to the tribe of Judah, the Kingdom of Judah, and ultimately to the word "Jew" itself (Yehudi in Hebrew means Jewish person). This is a name whose weight in Jewish history is almost unparalleled.
Hebrew vs. Anglicized Forms
English-speaking Jewish families have historically navigated between Yehuda (Hebrew), Judah (anglicized Hebrew), and Jude (Latin/English). The 2024 peak for Yehuda coincides with increased use of authentic Hebrew forms in American Jewish communities — a pattern seen with names like Yosef (instead of Joseph), Rivka (instead of Rebecca), and Tzvi. For families embedded in Hebrew-speaking religious communities, Yehuda is the natural, unmarked choice. For families outside those communities, it requires pronunciation guidance, yeh-HOO-dah,and an explanation of why they chose the Hebrew form over Judah.
The Judas Problem
Yehuda sidesteps the Judas association almost entirely. Judas Iscariot is the Latin form; Yehuda carries none of that specific Christian tradition's negative weight. This is one case where the Hebrew original is actually the culturally cleaner choice for certain families — parents who love the name's biblical depth but are bothered by the Judas association will find Yehuda a meaningful alternative. At #733, its 2024 peak suggests the Hebrew-form trend is still building rather than cresting.