Boy · Aramaic (via Greek) · Christian
Thaddeus
ThaddeusSay it THAD-ee-us
- Meaning today
- Courageous heart, gift of God
- Original meaning
- "of uncertain origin; Strong's gives no meaning" Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, G2280
- Say it
- THAD-ee-us
- Other spellings
- Thadeus, Thaddaeus
Thaddeus
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Thaddeus meaning
Thaddeus is a Christian boy's name of Aramaic origin (via Greek).
Meaning today
Courageous heart, gift of God
Original Aramaic (via Greek) meaning
"of uncertain origin; Strong's gives no meaning"
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, G2280 · entry Thaddaios · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Thaddeus is the name of one of the twelve apostles, given in Greek as Thaddaios. Strong's Concordance says its origin is uncertain and offers no meaning. Name lists give 'courageous heart', from a suggested Aramaic word for the breast, or 'gift of God', by linking it to Theodore; both are guesses rather than established senses. Church tradition identifies this apostle with Jude, and as St Jude Thaddeus he is the patron of hopeless cases, one of the most loved saints in India, with crowded novenas at his shrines.
References: Strong's G2280, Thaddaios (Bible Hub) · Wikipedia, Jude the Apostle
Famous namesakes
- St Jude Thaddeus, apostle
Popularity abroad
- #798 United States, boys 2025 (up 55 from 853 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Thaddeus · Thadeus · Thaddaeus