Judith

Judith is the Latin and Greek form of the Hebrew name Yehudit, meaning woman of Judea or Jewess, derived from Yehudah, the name of the ancient kingdom and tribe whose own etymology is uncertain but traditionally linked to a root meaning to praise. In the Hebrew Bible, Judith is the name of one of Esau's wives, and the deuterocanonical Book of Judith tells the story of a courageous widow who saves her people by beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes, making the name a long-standing symbol of female heroism. The name spread widely through Christian Europe during the medieval period and enjoyed renewed popularity in the twentieth century, particularly in English-speaking countries. Related forms include Judy, Judi, Judit, Giuditta, and Jutte.