Joe

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOH /dʒoʊ/High

Meaning: Short form of Joseph, from Hebrew Yosef meaning he will add or God will increase, expressed through the phrase Yahweh yoseph (may God add)High

In 30 seconds: Joe is the quintessential everyman short form of Joseph meaning God will increase. Direct, friendly, and timeless, it is the name of the average American as much as it is a proud biblical stand-alone that has never needed explanation.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighHebrew

MeaningShort form of Joseph, from Hebrew Yosef meaning he will add or God will increase, expressed through the phrase Yahweh yoseph (may God add)

U.S. rank (2025)#994 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births230 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1936

Total births (all-time)≈ 453,238

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Joseph derives from Hebrew Yosef meaning may God add. Joe developed as an informal short form in English, widely used in England and America since the 18th century. In the American Civil War era and beyond, Joe became the archetypal working-man's name.

Joe has been used as a standalone given name in the United States for over two centuries. It carries the trustworthy, plain-spoken character of the American heartland alongside the biblical prestige of its source.

Did you know? Average Joe entered American English as a phrase for an ordinary person, and GI Joe became the name of the iconic American soldier toy since 1964. Few names have been more thoroughly embedded in American cultural identity than Joe.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Joseph — Hebrew Yosef etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JosephJoeyJo

Nicknames

Joey

Famous Bearers

★Joe Biden (1942–present)
46th President of the United States (2021–2025), who had previously served as Vice President under Barack Obama (2009–2017) and as a U.S. Senator from Delaware for 36 years.

If you like Joe…

Jack— shares the one-syllable everyman quality and the classic American nickname identity

Bob— same mid-century American one-syllable informal masculine classic

Ray— shares the direct, no-frills one-syllable American character name feel

Sam— same biblical short form tradition and the quintessential American everyman quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Joe mean?

Joe means God will increase as a short form of Joseph from Hebrew Yosef, meaning may God add.

How do you pronounce Joe?

It is said JOH, as a single syllable.

Is Joe short for Joseph?

Yes, Joe is the traditional short form of Joseph, though it is also widely used as a complete given name.

Is Joe a popular name?

Joe has been consistently popular for centuries as both a given name and the archetypal American everyman name, embodied in phrases like Average Joe and GI Joe.