Judith f
Biblical name, meaning ‘Jewess’ or ‘woman from Judea’, borne by a Jewish heroine whose story is recorded in the Book of Judith in the Apocrypha. Judith is portrayed as a beautiful widow who delivers her people from the invading Assyrians by gaining the confidence of their commander, Holofernes, and cutting off his head while he is asleep; without their commander, the Assyrians are duly routed. The name is also borne by one of the Hittite wives of Esau (Genesis 26: 34). This has been a perennially popular Jewish name. In the English-speaking world it was taken up among Nonconformists in the 18th century, and has enjoyed great popularity in the 20th century. It was in occasional use among Gentiles before this: for example, it was borne by a niece of William the Conqueror. Elsewhere in Europe, it has usually been regarded as a characteristically Jewish name. In Ireland and Scotland it has been used as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic names SIOBHÁN (SEE Siobhán) and SIUBHAN (SEE Siubhan).
Cognates: Hebrew: Yehudit. Latinized: Juditha. Polish: Judyta. Czech: Judita.
First names dictionary. 2012.