Yosef

♂ Boy

Pronounced YOH-sef /ˈjoʊ.sɛf/High

Meaning: Hebrew form of Joseph, from Yosef, composed of Yahweh and yasaf meaning to add or to increase; meaning God will add another son or may God increase; the patriarch Joseph in Genesis bore this nameHigh

In 30 seconds: The original Hebrew form of Joseph, Yosef carries the full biblical weight of the patriarch who was sold into slavery and rose to become Pharaoh's viceroy, with an authentic ancient-Hebrew resonance.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningHebrew form of Joseph, from Yosef, composed of Yahweh and yasaf meaning to add or to increase; meaning God will add another son or may God increase; the patriarch Joseph in Genesis bore this name

U.S. rank (2025)#665 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births413 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 10,605

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Yosef is the original Hebrew spelling of the name anglicized as Joseph. It derives from the verb yasaf, meaning to add or to increase, with the divine element Yahweh, giving the meaning God will add or may God increase. The patriarch Joseph — beloved son of Jacob, sold into Egyptian slavery, and eventually raised to Pharaoh's viceroy — is the name's defining biblical figure.

In modern usage, Yosef is the standard spelling in Israeli Hebrew and among Orthodox Jewish communities worldwide. It represents a return to the Hebrew original rather than the anglicized Joseph. In the United States it appears primarily among Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewish families and has been gradually gaining visibility beyond those communities as parents seek authentic Hebrew forms.

Did you know? In the Hebrew Bible, Yosef (Joseph) was the son of Jacob who dreamed prophetic dreams and whose story fills fourteen chapters of Genesis — more than any other figure except Jacob himself, making it one of the most elaborately told stories in scripture.

Overall data confidence 96%

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

Variations

JosephJosefYusuf

Nicknames

YosiYossiJoe

Famous Bearers

★Yosef (biblical)
Biblical patriarch, son of Jacob, central figure in the Genesis story of Egypt.

If you like Yosef…

Eliyahu— shares the authentic Hebrew biblical form tradition and the same religious depth

Moshe— another Hebrew biblical patriarch name in its original form

Binyamin— the Hebrew form of Benjamin, sharing the same patriarch-name tradition

Noam— shares the modern Israeli Hebrew name feel and the same genuine heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Yosef mean?

Yosef means God will add or may God increase, from Hebrew yasaf (to add) plus the divine name Yahweh.

How do you pronounce Yosef?

It is said YOH-sef /ˈjoʊ.sɛf/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Yosef the same as Joseph?

Yes — Yosef is the original Hebrew spelling; Joseph is the anglicized form. Both carry the same meaning and biblical heritage.

Who uses the name Yosef?

Yosef is used primarily in Jewish communities (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) and in Israel as the standard Hebrew form of Joseph.