The nameJosé
José is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God will add". The Spanish and Portuguese form of Joseph, it is one of the most common names in the Hispanic world.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
José comes from the Hebrew Yosef, "he will add", meaning "God will add another son".
Origin
Hebrew, through Spanish and Portuguese. Pepe is its usual Spanish nickname.
History
José has long been among the most common names in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. In the United States, it was in the top 30 in the 1990s and 2000s among Hispanic families.
Did you know?
- José Saramago won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998, the first writer in Portuguese to do so.
Famous people named José
- José de San Martín, Argentine liberator
- José Saramago, writer
- José Mourinho, football manager
- José Carreras, tenor
Popularity of the name José
José in the United States
José was most popular in the United States in the 1990s, with 119,777 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named José. Its rise began around 1923, and it peaked in 2002. Half of all babies named José in the United States were born before 1991. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 3,882 births a year on average, against 4,720 in the five years before.
José in the United Kingdom
José was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 377 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named José. Half of all babies named José in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 30 births a year.
José in France
José in Norway
Sibling names for José
Names from the same generation as José, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named José? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare José with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of José side by side with the name of your choice.
José in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name José mean?
José comes from the Hebrew Yosef, "he will add", meaning "God will add another son".
What is the origin of the name José?
Hebrew, through Spanish and Portuguese. Pepe is its usual Spanish nickname.
Is José a girl's or a boy's name?
José is a boy's name.
How popular is the name José?
In 2024, José was the 91st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 3,768 births.
What are good sibling names for José?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Anna, Maria, Sara and Mary for a sister, Jonathan, Juan, Jordan and Jesus for a brother.
Who are famous people named José?
José de San Martín, Argentine liberator; José Saramago, writer; José Mourinho, football manager; José Carreras, tenor.