Judy Garland
/ˈdʒuːdi ˈɡɑːrlə̃nd/noun
Judy Garland was an American singer and actress best known for starring as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
Did you know?“Judy” began as a diminutive of Judith, a biblical name meaning “Jewess,” while “Garland” referred to a wreath or crown—an evocative pairing for the star who became a symbol of theatrical enchantment.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
Yəhūḏīṯ
“Jewess; woman of Judah”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Iou dith
“Judith, the Greek form of the Hebrew biblical name”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Iudith
“Judith, adopted into Christian Latin naming”
Middle English
English
Judy
“A pet form of Judith”
13th–14th Century
Old French
garlande
“A wreath or crown of flowers”
1934
American English
Judy Garland
“Stage name adopted by Frances Ethel Gumm, combining “Judy” with the surname “Garland””
Modern English
English
Judy Garland
“The established professional name of the American actress and singer”