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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hosea

Hosea

♂ Boy

Pronounced hoh-ZAY-uh /hoʊˈzeɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Salvation; God saves; from Hebrew Hoshea (to save, salvation) — related to Joshua and Jesus through the same rootHigh

In 30 seconds: A Hebrew prophetic name meaning 'salvation' or 'God saves,' from the same root as Joshua and Jesus. Hosea is one of the twelve minor prophets whose book is among the Hebrew Bible's most poetic — a profound name with deep scriptural resonance.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningSalvation; God saves; from Hebrew Hoshea (to save, salvation) — related to Joshua and Jesus through the same root
U.S. rank (2025)#2154 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births67 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1925
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,481

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192518802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hosea comes from Hebrew Hoshea (salvation, to save), from the same root as Yehoshua (Joshua: God saves) and Yeshua (Jesus: he saves). The prophet Hosea was active in the 8th century BCE in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and authored one of the Hebrew Bible's most poetic books.

Hosea has been used in Christian communities, particularly in African American and evangelical Protestant families who draw on the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible. Its 2024 ranking of #2343 reflects steady use in these communities.

Did you know? The Book of Hosea is unique in the Hebrew Bible for its extended metaphor of God's relationship with Israel as a marriage — the prophet was commanded to marry a faithless woman to embody Israel's unfaithfulness to God, making Hosea's personal life a living parable.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Hosea — Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JoshuaHoshea

Nicknames

HoHose

Famous Bearers

  • ★Hosea (prophet) (biblical)
    Hebrew prophet of the 8th century BCE, one of the twelve minor prophets, whose book uses marriage to the unfaithful Gomer as a metaphor for God's covenant with Israel.

If you like Hosea…

Josiah— Hebrew prophet/king name from the same biblical tradition
Isaiah— Hebrew major prophet name with the same -iah (Yahweh) element
Ezekiel— Hebrew prophet name with the same weighty biblical character
Amos— Hebrew minor prophet name in the same prophetic naming tradition
Micah— Hebrew minor prophet name in the same biblical register

Explore names like Hosea

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By meaningGod / Divine

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hosea mean?

Hosea means 'salvation' or 'God saves,' from Hebrew Hoshea — the same root as Joshua and Jesus.

How do you pronounce Hosea?

Hosea is pronounced hoh-ZAY-uh (/hoʊˈzeɪ.ə/), with three syllables.

Is Hosea a boy or girl name?

Hosea is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Hosea?

Hosea ranked #2343 for U.S. boys in 2024.

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