Honest Opinions of the name Jude

mgabel · May 2009

My husband and I were set on this name for a boy until we mentioned it to my mother-in-law and she told us that everyone would make fun of him and he would hate us for giving him that name. Now DH is totally against it. He likes the names Nathan and Joshua, which are both nice names but very common.

What do you think? Be honest, I can take it. Would it be cruel to name our son Jude?

DarcyLongfellow · May 2009

Not a fan at all.

Where did this name come from anyway (I feel like I see it on here fairly frequently)? All I can think of is the Beatles song. And even that was made up -- it was originally "Hey, Jules" (referring to Julian -- John Lennon's son), but that was hard to say, so they changed it to Jude.

I don't think it's cruel, though -- I just don't care for it.

maltwin1 · May 2009

Honestly, I'm not a Jude fan. I like Nathan and Joshua much better. I just feel like it seems short and harsh, but I know a lot of people love it.

I think what it really comes down to is that people that like the song "Hey Jude" will love this name and those that don't won't. I've never been a fan of the song so I don't want to think of it when I think of my child.

But I'm sure your son won't hate you no matter what name you give him!

Phoebe Halliwell · May 2009

Honestly, I like it in general, and I like it a lot better than Nathan or Joshua.

This is why we're not telling anyone our name choices. That was really rude of your MIL to say. Assuming it's a respectable name, which Jude is, if you and your DH like it, then that's all that matters. He shouldn't let what his mother has to say influence his opinion one way or another. Besides, the only "teasing" I could see coming out of the name Jude is the song Hey Jude. And there are far worse things to be teased about that your association to a Beatles song.

wheelenl · May 2009

DarcyLongfellow:
Not a fan at all.

Where did this name come from anyway (I feel like I see it on here fairly frequently)? All I can think of is the Beatles song. And even that was made up -- it was originally "Hey, Jules" (referring to Julian -- John Lennon's son), but that was hard to say, so they changed it to Jude.

I don't think it's cruel, though -- I just don't care for it.

Jude is a form of the name Judah. It's having a resurgence because it fits several trends including being Hebrew (Asher is another of the 12 tribes coming back into fashion) and a short, long-vowel-sounded name like Reed, Reese, Miles, etc.

I like it, really because of the Beatles song but now I think it could be really trendy, one of those names that seems to come out of nowhere.

mgabel · May 2009

It's actually not made up. It's the name of the apostle St. Jude Thadeus, the patron saint of lost causes. But, thanks for your opinion!

rc1276 · May 2009

I like it. Tell your MIL to mind her own business.

Temp950106187509203 · May 2009

rc1276:
I like it. Tell your MIL to mind her own business.

Ditto this. I think it's a great name. Your MIL already got to name her children. She doesn't really get a say in yours.

RoxyLynn · May 2009

I don't think it's an awful name at all. It strikes me as extremely Catholic (they have a Saint Jude), but if you're Catholic that's really not a problem (I would imagine).

juniper19 · May 2009

I LOVE Jude. I really, really wanted to name ds Jude, but dh nixed it because it the German word for Jew and the Nazis made the Jews wear yellow stars that said Jude. But he was OK with Judah, so that's what we went with, and I love it too now.

music247 · May 2009

I wouldn't name my kid Jude, even if it had biblical roots, and we're very much a Christian oriented family. I just can't say it's my style.

He might get teased in school and be called 'Rude Jude'...or something else the kids of today make up.

But it's between you and your husband. So if you like it, go for it!

RoxyLynn · May 2009

mgabel:
It's actually not made up. It's the name of the apostle St. Jude Thadeus, the patron saint of lost causes. But, thanks for your opinion!

I see you already knew about the Catholic angle! If your DS will grow up in a largely Catholic neighborhood where people (I guess) would know about being a "lost cause", then I can see your MIL's point.

But really, unless someone is Catholic, they're not ever going to know that.

kegallagh · May 2009

I love Jude, and I'm trying so hard to get DH on board. I'm not a Beatles fan, so I tend to think more of Jude Law before I think of the song. I strongly doubt that "everyone would make fun of him." I mean, there are plenty of worse names that give someone a reason to be teased.

juniper19 · May 2009

Funny that you also like Celia - my ds was going to be Celia if he was a girl.

GroomzMcFinehiney · May 2009

I don't care for it, but only because I associate the name with a person I do not care for either. Before I met him, I really liked the name. I say go for it. And raise him not to be a poo-head like the Jude I know.

EmmaRain · May 2009

I like it okay. I agree with the previous poster that said the star that the Nazis made Jewish people wear on their coats said "Jude" so that's what I think of first.

ruthie oct3 · May 2009

Phoebe Halliwell:

Honestly, I like it in general, and I like it a lot better than Nathan or Joshua.

This is why we're not telling anyone our name choices. That was really rude of your MIL to say. Assuming it's a respectable name, which Jude is, if you and your DH like it, then that's all that matters. He shouldn't let what his mother has to say influence his opinion one way or another. Besides, the only "teasing" I could see coming out of the name Jude is the song Hey Jude. And there are far worse things to be teased about that your association to a Beatles song.

this is one of the reasons we haven't shared any names yet. When we saw MIL on Mothers Day we were looking names up online. SHe works for a school and had comments on many names that I liked. SO I decided not to say anything further. She would say " oh he was a mommas boy." Well that doesn;t mean every kid named that was a mommas boy, etc...

starsmaycollide · May 2009

I like it! I definitely don't think he would get made fun of. Your MIL doesn't know what she is talking about..lol.

and123 · May 2009

rc1276:
I like it. Tell your MIL to mind her own business.

Yes

mrs_tacos · May 2009

wheelenl:
DarcyLongfellow:
Not a fan at all.

Where did this name come from anyway (I feel like I see it on here fairly frequently)? All I can think of is the Beatles song. And even that was made up -- it was originally "Hey, Jules" (referring to Julian -- John Lennon's son), but that was hard to say, so they changed it to Jude.

I don't think it's cruel, though -- I just don't care for it.
Jude is a form of the name Judah. It's having a resurgence because it fits several trends including being Hebrew (Asher is another of the 12 tribes coming back into fashion) and a short, long-vowel-sounded name like Reed, Reese, Miles, etc.

Jude is also the next to the last book of the New Testament.

I like it. It's simple, but masculine, and will grow well with a child.

DarcyLongfellow · May 2009

amandarene112:
wheelenl:
DarcyLongfellow:

Not a fan at all.

Where did this name come from anyway (I feel like I see it on here fairly frequently)? All I can think of is the Beatles song. And even that was made up -- it was originally "Hey, Jules" (referring to Julian -- John Lennon's son), but that was hard to say, so they changed it to Jude.

I don't think it's cruel, though -- I just don't care for it.

Jude is a form of the name Judah. It's having a resurgence because it fits several trends including being Hebrew (Asher is another of the 12 tribes coming back into fashion) and a short, long-vowel-sounded name like Reed, Reese, Miles, etc.

Jude is also the next to the last book of the New Testament.

I like it. It's simple, but masculine, and will grow well with a child.

Learn something new every day! Sorry for saying it was made up.

loumertes · May 2009

LOVE IT!!!!! Yes

SarahLRDR · May 2009

i think it's a very awesome name.

when my sister was pregnant, she refused to tell anyone the names they were considering because of this very reason! you should be free to name your baby anything you want without someone telling you how much they dislike it.

newportbride715 · May 2009

I don't think I'd go as far as to say he'd hate you for it. It's a fine name but it's nms.

justme04 · May 2009

jude law is cute....but really i see no problem with the name jude

gretchenites · May 2009

A girl i went to school with just and her son Jude with the middle name Rowan its a different name but no matter what people name their kids there is going to be some way to come up with a way to make fun of it so if you like i would use it if you like it

naflmj · May 2009

I personally think it's a great name and not totally obscure to a point where he'd get picked on. MIL's are annoying, mine told me she pictured a Graham coming out with glasses on.

lisa5201 · May 2009

I LOVE the name, it's poetic, simple and sweet

I certainly don't think it would be "cruel" to name your kid Jude! I think it's really horrible that your MIL told you your kid would hate you for giving him a name she doesn't agree with. I say you go with it just to spite her!

Hey Jude is an awesome song to "have" by the way. i think your kid would feel pretty lucky to be associated with the most popular musicians of all time

berry25 · May 2009

I love the name Jude!

courtneyandandrew · May 2009

I really like Jude!! I think it's a great choice!

littlepony · May 2009

It's not a name I would pick now, but when I first heard of Jude Law I liked his name. As previous posts have stated, children can turn any name into something to be made fun of and if not the name, they will find something else.

littlepony · May 2009

I too am not discussing names with many people because I knew I would get opinions that I didn't really want to hear. It is your child, not theirs, and you will be writing and saying the name a lot more than they will.

Rogue Lily · May 2009

Have you seen kids names lately?? Jude is mad normal compared to many I've seen on here and IRL. Your kid is NOT going to get made fun of for that name. I love it, too.

mysticriver · May 2009

I like it - it's on my list but DH doesn't love it (not for any particular reason, he just doesn't love it)

What's the worst teasing he could get - being associated with a cool song? Not bad at all. I grew up with a Jude and he had kind of a cool aura because of the name. Now that we've got Jude Law it just adds to the cool factor.

The "Jude" on the Nazi star did give me pause, I was never sure what to do with that except to remember that the negative connotation was created by the worst of those who judged others and that we shouldn't avoid being who we are because of what other people think or so.

Re: the Catholic angle - he wouldn't be thought of as a "lost cause", St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes, as in helping people in need. I always saw that as suggesting that someone with the name Jude would be altruistic and sensitive to others in need. Someone who's actually made petitions to St. Jude would never think poorly of someone with that name.

Best to you and baby!

Kaiterz · May 2009

The name Jude is in my family quite a bit. It started when my uncle was sick as a child and my Grandmother would pray to Saint Jude. My uncle recovered from his illness and so my Grandma named the son she was pregnant w/ at the time after Saint Jude.

LMS05 · May 2009

It's not cruel. I like Jude, but Dh thought it sounded feminine. Nathan and Joshua are really nice. I like them more than Jude.?

MrsHengel · May 2009

I love the name Jude. There will always be people who hate your name choice. Sebastian is becoming much more popular recently and my husband really wants to name our little boy that. In my mind, I cannot get over the fact that it is the crab on the Little Mermaid. So what. That is my problem so I shouldn't name my own child that, but those naming their child Sebastian obviously don't have that same issue as me. If it does not remind you of a Catholic saint, or a mean nickname, or the Nazis in a bad way each time you say it then who cares if it does for a group of other people. They don't have to hear the name every day.