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Josias

♂ Boy

Pronounced joh-SY-us /dʒoʊˈsaɪ.əs/High

Meaning: Latin and Greek form of Josiah, from Hebrew Yoshiyahu meaning Yahweh supports or may Yahweh heal, borne by the righteous king of Judah in the Old TestamentHigh

In 30 seconds: Josias is the classical Latin form of Josiah meaning God supports. A distinguished biblical name, it has a stately quality that sets it apart from the more common Josiah while carrying identical spiritual depth.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningLatin and Greek form of Josiah, from Hebrew Yoshiyahu meaning Yahweh supports or may Yahweh heal, borne by the righteous king of Judah in the Old Testament

U.S. rank (2025)#950 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births247 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,514

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

The name Yoshiyahu appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of a king of Judah celebrated for his faithfulness to God. The Greek and Latin form Josias was used in early Christian texts and spread through Catholic and Protestant Europe.

Josias was a recognized given name in England and colonial America, where biblical names were highly valued. It is less common than Josiah today but is used by families seeking a distinguished, less-seen alternative.

Did you know? King Josiah of Judah (reigned c. 640–609 BCE) is one of the most praised rulers in the Hebrew Bible, credited with a sweeping religious reform that removed pagan shrines and re-established worship at the Temple in Jerusalem.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Josiah — Hebrew etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JosiahJozias

Nicknames

JosJoss

Famous Bearers

★Josias Rowley (1765–1842)
Royal Navy Admiral who commanded the Cape of Good Hope Station and later the Mediterranean Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. His 1809–1810 Indian Ocean campaign captured the French island of Réunion (July 1810) and contributed to the seizure of Mauritius (December 1810), effectively eliminating French naval power in the Indian Ocean — achievements that earned him a baronetcy and the GCB and GCMG honors.
★Josias (King of Judah) (r. c. 641–609 BCE)
Hebrew king celebrated in the Bible for the most sweeping religious reform in Israel's history: upon discovering the Book of the Law during temple renovations, he purged idolatry across the kingdom and reinstated the Passover as a national observance. His name appears as Josias in the Greek Septuagint, and the King James Bible uses the spelling Josias in the New Testament genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:10–11), making Josias the recognized classical Greek and Latin form of the name.

If you like Josias…

Josiah— direct variant sharing identical Hebrew origin and meaning

Elias— same Latin-form biblical name with the same stately classical sound

Matthias— shares the classical -ias ending and dignified New Testament register

Tobias— same Old Testament Latin form with a scholarly, vintage quality

Explore names like Josias

By themehebrew biblical vintage three-syllable classical

By meaningGod / Divine Royal / Noble Healing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Josias mean?

Josias is the Latin form of Josiah, from Hebrew Yoshiyahu meaning Yahweh supports or may God heal.

How do you pronounce Josias?

It is said joh-SY-us, with three syllables and stress on the second.

Is Josias the same as Josiah?

Josias is the Latin and Greek form of Josiah; they share the same Hebrew origin and meaning.

Who was Josias in the Bible?

Josias is the Latin Bible name for King Josiah of Judah, renowned for his religious reforms and devotion to God in the Old Testament.