Jude is a modern star, maintaining a steady level of popularity -- but not TOO much popularity, in the US at least. Thank Jude Law and the great Lennon-McCartney song "Hey Jude", double-handedly responsible for propelling Jude up the charts.
 Saint Jude was the apostle who intervened on behalf of people with problems and became the patron saint of lost causes. This positive Biblical association helps to distance the name for the similar Judas, borne by the traitorous Judas Iscariot.
 
A literary name, appearing in Thomas Hardy's tragic novel, Jude the Obscure and in the more recent (but equally tragic) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Jude is also notably borne by footballer Jude Bellingham. The name is occasionally used for girls (as in Martha Stewart's granddaughter)--but more often as a shortened form of Judith/Judy.
 
Jude can be considered a multicultural choice too. It is an alternative form of the Arabic Jud or Joud, both variations of Jawad meaning "to be generous, to be good to others". In this case, it is considered unisex.
 
Currently a US Top 200 name, in the UK, it entered the Top 20 in 2023.

Jude

Orlando, the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare and before, has appealing book-ended o's, and is open to combination with almost any last name, a la British actor, Orlando Bloom.
 Orlando has an impressive literary résumé, including the poem "Orlando Furioso,", Handel's opera "Orlando", Shakespeare's As You Like It and Virginia Woolf's gender-bending novel. Most recently, Orlando was a character in The Wire.
 Orlando Bloom's name was inspired by that of the sixteenth century composer, Orlando Gibbons. It is also the first name of several outstanding athletes--including Orlandos Woolridge, Cabrera and Cepeda, and is, of course, a place name, home of Disney World in Florida.

Orlando

Downey

undefined's list "My All-time Favorite Boy Namesss" of 3 great name ideas: Jude - Downey!

My All-time Favorite Boy Namesss

A bunch of my favorite boy names. Take a look!
Nameberrygirl....

Orlando Jude
Pheonix Hawkin
Avenger Elias 
Downey James

My All-time Favorite Boy Namesss

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