Boy · #6,478 in 2026

Thaddaeus

Jude the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is generally identified as Thaddeus and is also variously called Judas Thaddaeus, Jude Thaddaeus, Jude of James, or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified with Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion.

Current Rank
#6,478
Peak Rank
#2,205 (2005)
Total Babies
1K
5-Yr Trend
-32%
1924
First Year
2026
Last Year
2005
Peak Year
#2205
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
60
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Thaddaeus

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Jude the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is generally identified as Thaddeus and is also variously called Judas Thaddaeus, Jude Thaddaeus, Jude of James, or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified with Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Thaddaeus

Thaddaeus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1924, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2005, when 29 Thaddaeuss were born — ranking #3,389 that year. As of 2026, Thaddaeus ranks #6,478 for baby boys with 13 births, falling sharply (-32%). In total, more than 1K Thaddaeuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Names that sound like Thaddaeus

Phonetically similar names — useful when Thaddaeus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Thaddaeus

What does the name Thaddaeus mean?
Jude the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is generally identified as Thaddeus and is also variously called Judas Thaddaeus, Jude Thaddaeus, Jude of James, or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified with Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion.
How popular is Thaddaeus in 2026?
In 2026, Thaddaeus ranks #6,478 among boys' names in the U.S., with 13 babies given the name that year.
When was Thaddaeus most popular?
Thaddaeus reached its peak popularity in 2005, ranking #2,205 that year with 29 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Thaddaeus most popular?
Thaddaeus has historically been most popular in Ohio, Washington. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Thaddaeus.
Is Thaddaeus a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Thaddaeus is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Thaddaeus?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Thaddaeus include Quince, Carry, Peder. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Thaddaeus

Thaddaeus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1924 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Thaddaeus's peak popularity came in 2005 when it ranked #2,205. Use the chart and map above to compare Thaddaeus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.