The nameJoseph
Joseph is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God will add". The name of the husband of Mary, it has been a classic of the Christian world for centuries.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
Joseph comes from the Hebrew Yosef, "he will add", meaning "God will add another son".
Origin
Hebrew. Two great figures bear it: Joseph, son of Jacob, sold by his brothers and made a minister in Egypt, and Saint Joseph, husband of Mary.
History
Joseph was among the top 10 names in the United States for most of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Joe, Joey and Jo are its short forms, and Giuseppe, José and Józef its forms in other languages.
Joseph in other languages
Joseph is spelled the same in English, French and German. It is Giuseppe in Italian, José in Spanish and Portuguese, Josep in Catalan, Józef in Polish, Josef in Czech and the Nordic countries, Yusuf in Arabic and Yosef in Hebrew.
Nicknames for Joseph
The most common nicknames for Joseph: Joe, Joey and Jo.
Did you know?
- Joseph Haydn wrote more than a hundred symphonies, earning the nickname "father of the symphony".
- In the Bible, Joseph, son of Jacob, is sold by his brothers and rises to become Pharaoh's chief minister.
- The novelist Joseph Conrad only learned English in his twenties, yet became one of its great prose writers.
Famous people named Joseph
- Saint Joseph
- Joseph Haydn, composer
- Joseph Conrad, writer
- Joe Biden, President of the United States
Popularity of the name Joseph
Joseph in the United States
Joseph was most popular in the United States in the 1980s, with 301,410 births over the decade, 11% of all recorded babies named Joseph. Its rise began around 1900, and it peaked in 1956. Half of all babies named Joseph in the United States were born before 1963, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 7,798 births a year on average, against 10,380 in the five years before.
Joseph in the United Kingdom
Joseph was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 48,603 births over the decade, 47% of all recorded babies named Joseph. Half of all babies named Joseph in the United Kingdom were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,157 births a year on average, against 2,129 in the five years before.
Joseph in Ireland
Joseph in France
Joseph in Belgium
Joseph in Austria
Joseph in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Joseph
Names from the same generation as Joseph, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Joseph? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Joseph with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Joseph side by side with the name of your choice.
Joseph in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joseph mean?
Joseph comes from the Hebrew Yosef, "he will add", meaning "God will add another son".
What is the origin of the name Joseph?
Hebrew. Two great figures bear it: Joseph, son of Jacob, sold by his brothers and made a minister in Egypt, and Saint Joseph, husband of Mary.
Is Joseph a girl's or a boy's name?
Joseph is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Joseph?
In 2024, Joseph was the 32nd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 7,223 births.
What are the variants of the name Joseph?
Variants and related names of Joseph include Giuseppe, Joe, Joey, Joline, José-Manuel, Josée, Josemaría and Josépha.
What are good sibling names for Joseph?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Elizabeth, Anna, Maria and Abigail for a sister, Michael, David, Matthew and John for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Joseph?
The most common nicknames for Joseph are Joe, Joey and Jo.
Who are famous people named Joseph?
Saint Joseph; Joseph Haydn, composer; Joseph Conrad, writer; Joe Biden, President of the United States.