Jude

Jude is a masculine given name of English origin, derived from the Latin Iudas, which in turn comes from the Hebrew Yehudah (Judah). In English usage, Jude can function as a short form of Judah or Judas, and it has also been used as a standalone given name since the medieval period. It is encountered as a surname in some families as well.

In religious usage, Jude most often refers to Saint Jude the Apostle, also known as Judas Thaddaeus, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is venerated as the patron saint of lost causes in Western Christianity; his emblem is often a flame or a fish, depending on tradition. His feast day is celebrated on October 28. The Epistle of Jude, a short letter in the New Testament, is attributed to Jude, traditionally identified as the brother of James. It discusses the dangers of false teachers and urges perseverance in the faith.

In modern culture, Jude is widely used as a given name. Notable people include Jude Law (born 1972), an English actor known for roles in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain, and the Sherlock Holmes series. The name also appears in literature and film; for example, the 1996 film Jude, directed by Michael Winterbottom, adapts Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure and stars Christopher Eccleston.

Cognates and variations exist in other languages, and the German word Jude means Jew, unrelated to the given name; awareness of context is important in multilingual settings.