Jody Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jody is an English name derived from Joseph and Jude, meaning 'he will add'. It evolved from Hebrew roots and became popular in the mid-20th century as a unisex name. Today, it is viewed as friendly and youthful, with notable figures such as Jody Foster and Jody Williams contributing to its recognition.
The name Jody is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jody has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Jody' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3440th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1683rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 363rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 216th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 626th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1566th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2627th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5806th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1269th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 237th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 181st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 632nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3144th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6115th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jody' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jody"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒoʊdi/
Origin
English
Etymology
Jody is often considered a diminutive form of the name Joseph or a feminine variant of the name Jude. It has roots in the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning 'he will add'.
Meaning
He will add.
Language Evolution
Joseph (Hebrew), Jude (Hebrew), Jody (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Jody gained popularity in the mid-20th century as a unisex name, especially in the United States, and was commonly used for both boys and girls.
Variants & Derivatives
Jodie, Jodie, Jo, Joe
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Jody is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with a casual and youthful character.
Famous People
Jody Foster - An acclaimed American actress and director., Jody Williams - A Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for her work in humanitarian efforts.
Explore More Jody Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jody"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jody"
"Jody" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3440th of 7545 | 91 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1683rd of 6773 | 328 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 363rd of 7552 | 7,746 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 216th of 10718 | 17,455 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 626th of 16616 | 3,893 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1566th of 24088 | 1,418 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2627th of 23106 | 589 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5806th of 9107 | 33 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1269th of 9204 | 650 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 237th of 12526 | 23,037 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 181st of 19264 | 25,898 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 632nd of 27321 | 5,177 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3144th of 35406 | 793 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6115th of 30306 | 241 |
Regional Popularity of "Jody" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
91.55% 2166th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
64.56% 1519th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.59% 325th/2227 |
14.69% 357th/2430 |
13.74% 392nd/2853 |
13.69% 380th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.18% 211th/2937 |
7.55% 263rd/3483 |
4.92% 173rd/3518 |
7.64% 309th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
20.92% 771st/3685 |
24.63% 1102nd/4475 |
8.53% 443rd/5194 |
17.00% 1074th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
53.93% 2471st/4582 |
51.10% 2639th/5164 |
16.46% 1204th/7313 |
31.54% 2354th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.99% 3187th/3984 |
71.52% 3209th/4487 |
29.54% 2015th/6822 |
37.83% 2374th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jody" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
74.06% 1145th/1546 |
100.00% 1556th/1556 |
60.35% 1420th/2353 |
61.67% 954th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
8.17% 182nd/2227 |
9.22% 224th/2430 |
15.67% 447th/2853 |
7.50% 208th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
4.32% 127th/2937 |
5.08% 177th/3483 |
9.21% 324th/3518 |
4.48% 181st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
12.27% 452nd/3685 |
15.66% 701st/4475 |
15.08% 783rd/5194 |
11.45% 723rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
69.03% 3163rd/4582 |
59.74% 3085th/5164 |
51.61% 3774th/7313 |
42.07% 3140th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
82.50% 5628th/6822 |
100.00% 6276th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jody"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jody" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.