English, Biblical:Variant of JUDAS. It is used in many English versions of the New Testament to denote the second apostle named Judas, in order to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. He was supposedly the author of the Epistle of Jude. In the English-speaking world, Jude has occasionally been used as a given name since the Protestant Reformation (behindthename.com)
Hey, Jude Law, take your bow: You’ve erased old connections to Judasand Thomas Hardy‘s tragic Jude the Obscure, and inspired a legion of new baby Judes.Nicknames & Variations: Judson, Judas, Jud, Judsen, Judd, Judah. (nameberry.com)
Commentary on the name Jude:This name has a pioneer style and a strong religious heritage that give it impressive gravity. It also has a zippy sound that keeps it unpretentious. The one other choice with that same style combo is Luke, a soaring hit name. Jude is an uncommon alternative with breakout potential. See also: Judah.From The Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenberg
Global Popularityof the Name Jude
- #116 in Scotland
- #131 in Canada (British Columbia)
- #192 in Canada (Alberta)
- #224 in United States
- #409 in Canada (Quebec)
Known siblings
Amelia Ayden Callum CharlotteEliza Emma Ethan EzraGabriel Harrison Holden JasperJeanel John Kaitlyn Liam LillyLuke Lyla Macy Noah PaulQuinn Ruby Sophia Fay (babynamewizard.com)
New Zealand Baby Names 
Sophia said,
February 5, 2010 @ 5:32 am
I love this name 🙂
babynamelover said,
February 5, 2010 @ 5:52 am
Me too on a boy only though 🙂
Sophia said,
February 5, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Yeah same. Well…. I can deal with it on a girl, but I much prefer it on a boy. The only girl Jude I know is a woman, and her real name’s Judith. I only really love it on a boy as a full name, as in short for nothing.
babynamelover said,
February 5, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
Judith is pretty 🙂 my Nan has a friend Judith.