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Joshua

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOSH-yoo-uh /ˈdʒɒʃuə/High

Meaning: God is salvation; Yahweh saves — from Hebrew Yehoshua (Yeho: God + yasha: to save)High

In 30 seconds: A timeless Hebrew Biblical name meaning 'God is salvation.' Joshua, Moses's successor who led Israel into Canaan, has been a U.S. top-5 boys' name for decades.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGod is salvation; Yahweh saves — from Hebrew Yehoshua (Yeho: God + yasha: to save)
Peak year1989
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,202,454

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198918802017

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

History & Origin

Joshua comes from the Hebrew Yehoshua, a compound of Yeho (a shortened form of Yahweh) and yasha (to save, deliver), meaning 'Yahweh saves' or 'God is salvation.' In the Hebrew Bible, Joshua is the military leader chosen by Moses to succeed him and lead the Israelites into Canaan. The Greek form Iesous (Jesus) is a direct transcription of the same Hebrew name.

Joshua was embraced by English Puritans in the 17th century as a strong Old Testament hero name. It climbed steadily through the 20th century, entering the U.S. top 10 in the 1970s and the top 5 in the 1980s and 1990s, where it remained for years. It has declined slightly from peak but remains firmly in the top 25, one of the defining Biblical boys' names of the modern era.

Did you know? Jesus and Joshua are the same name: the Greek Iesous is simply the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Yehoshua — a fact that underscores the profound Biblical weight both names share.

Variations

JosuéJosh

Nicknames

Josh

Famous Bearers

  • ★Joshua (Biblical) (c. 13th century BC)
    Israelite military leader, Moses's successor, who led the Israelites into Canaan according to the Hebrew Bible.

If you like Joshua…

Caleb— Caleb and Joshua are paired companions in the Bible's Exodus narrative — the natural pairing
Noah— short Hebrew Old Testament name at the very top of the charts
Elijah— fellow Old Testament hero name that shares Joshua's long chart dominance
Samuel— Hebrew leader name with the same depth and strong masculine feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Joshua mean?

Joshua is a Hebrew name meaning 'God is salvation' or 'Yahweh saves,' from Yeho (God) and yasha (to save).

How do you pronounce Joshua?

It's said JOSH-yoo-uh /ˈdʒɒʃuə/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Joshua a boy or girl name?

Joshua is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Joshua?

Joshua ranked in the U.S. top 5 boys' names from the 1980s through the 2000s and remains in the top 25.