Meaning and background
The story behind Jody
Jody has several familiar-name sources rather than one required parent name. Behind the Name includes Josephine, Joseph, Joanna and other Jo names, and notes the influence of the young hero of The Yearling and its film adaptation. It also cautiously suggests an influence from Judy on feminine use. A family nickname and a literary tribute are therefore different documented possibilities; the intended connection makes a dog’s individual naming story clearer.
- Origin
- Diminutive of several Jo names, including Josephine, Joseph and Joanna. Source
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Everyday moments“Jody, come here!”
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About Jody
Recorded as a dog’s name
Jody appears in 10 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/dʒoʊdi/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/dʒoʊdi/ · primary stress on syllable 1JH OW1 D IY0
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.