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Joseph

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOH-zef /ˈdʒoʊ.zɪf/High

Meaning: God will add; God increases; may God addHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew 'God will add,' Joseph is one of the great patriarchs of the Hebrew Bible and the name of the husband of Mary. Never absent from the U.S. top 25 boys' names.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGod will add; God increases; may God add
Peak year1956
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,603,445

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195618802017

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

History & Origin

Joseph comes from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף), meaning 'God will add' or 'God increases.' In the Hebrew Bible, Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and Rachel, the favorite son who was sold into slavery in Egypt, rose to power, and was eventually reunited with his family. The New Testament's Joseph was the foster father of Jesus.

Joseph was the #1 boys' name in many European countries during different eras and has been used throughout Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. In the United States it has never left the top 25 boys' names and ranked in the top five for much of the 20th century.

Did you know? The biblical Joseph (Genesis 37–50) was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, became a high official in Egypt through his ability to interpret dreams, and ultimately forgave his brothers and saved his family from famine — one of the Bible's greatest stories of resilience and forgiveness.

Variations

JosefGiuseppeYusufJosipYosef

Nicknames

JoeJoeyJo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Joseph (patriarch) (c. 1700 BC (traditional))
    Biblical patriarch, son of Jacob, sold into slavery in Egypt who rose to great power.
  • ★Joseph Stalin (1878–1953)
    Soviet political leader, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
  • ★Joseph Biden (1942–)
    46th President of the United States.

If you like Joseph…

James— equally eternal biblical classic never far from the top
Samuel— shares the warm Old Testament feel with great nicknames
Daniel— fellow prophet-era name with the same sustained appeal
William— another name with centuries of dominance across Christianity
John— shares the apostle heritage and perennial top-25 position

Frequently Asked

What does the name Joseph mean?

Joseph comes from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning 'God will add' or 'God increases,' borne by the patriarch sold into slavery in Egypt and the foster father of Jesus.

How do you pronounce Joseph?

Joseph is said JOH-zef /ˈdʒoʊ.zɪf/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Joseph a boy or girl name?

Joseph is used almost exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine equivalents are Josephine and Josie.

How popular is Joseph?

Joseph has never left the U.S. top 25 boys' names since SSA records began in 1880, one of the most consistent performers in American naming history.