What does Malachi mean?
From the Hebrew Malʾakhi, “my messenger.” Malachi is the last of the Hebrew prophets.
What does Jude mean?
A form of Judah, from the Hebrew, “praised.” Saint Jude is patron of hopeless causes.
Malachi vs Jude
Which is more popular?
Malachi is more popular than Jude today: about 2,692 US babies were given the name Malachi in 2025, compared with 2,384 named Jude.
| Malachi | Jude | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | My messenger | Praised |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MAL-uh-ky | JOOD |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1912 |
| Peak year | 2006 (2,776) | 2015 (2,668) |
| In 2025 | 2,692 | 2,384 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Malachi
Jude
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Malachi | Jude |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 14,631 | 14,212 |
| 2010s | 24,588 | 25,132 |
| 2000s | 20,780 | 9,351 |
| 1990s | 3,525 | 1,112 |
| 1980s | 746 | 868 |
| 1970s | 390 | 1,207 |
| 1960s | 108 | 945 |
| 1950s | 155 | 597 |
| 1940s | 183 | 293 |
| 1930s | 172 | 197 |
| 1920s | 185 | 41 |
| 1910s | 156 | 27 |
| 1900s | 51 | 0 |
| 1890s | 30 | 0 |
| 1880s | 58 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malachi or Jude more popular?
Malachi is more popular than Jude today: about 2,692 US babies were given the name Malachi in 2025, compared with 2,384 named Jude.
What is the difference between Malachi and Jude?
Malachi means My messenger (Hebrew origin), while Jude means Praised (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Malachi or Jude?
In US records, Malachi first appears in 1880 and Jude in 1912, so Malachi has the longer recorded history.