Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Yoshua

Yoshua

♂ Boy

Pronounced yoh-SHOO-ah /joʊˈʃu.ɑ/High

Meaning: Spelling of Joshua — Hebrew Yehoshua, 'Yahweh is salvation' — the leader who succeeded MosesHigh

In 30 seconds: Joshua, closer to its Hebrew sound: Yoshua carries 'Yahweh is salvation' — the leader who brought Israel into the Promised Land. Scriptural depth, a Y-spelled flourish, especially in Latino naming.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningSpelling of Joshua — Hebrew Yehoshua, 'Yahweh is salvation' — the leader who succeeded Moses
U.S. rank (2025)#3236 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 602

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519842025

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

Yoshua is a spelling of Joshua — Hebrew Yehoshua, 'Yahweh is salvation' — the successor of Moses who led Israel into Canaan. The Y-spelling, closer to the Hebrew and common in Latino naming, foregrounds the name's deep scriptural root.

In the U.S. it appears in Latino and devout families. Rare, salvation at the root, and scriptural.

Did you know? Yoshua is essentially Joshua spelled toward its Hebrew root Yehoshua — the same name that, in another line of descent, becomes Yeshua, the Hebrew name of Jesus.
Overall data confidence 80%
Behind the Name — Joshua — root etymology

Variations

JoshuaYehoshuaJosua

Nicknames

YoshiJosh

Famous Bearers

  • ★Yoshua Bengio (1964-)
    Canadian computer scientist and AI pioneer who won the Turing Award for his work on deep learning

If you like Yoshua…

Joshua— the standard English spelling
Yehoshua— the full Hebrew form
Josue— the Spanish form of Joshua
Yeshua— the related Hebrew name (Jesus)

Explore names like Yoshua

By themehebrewbiblical
By meaningGod / DivineLeader

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Yoshua mean?

Yoshua is a spelling of Joshua, Hebrew for 'Yahweh is salvation'.

How do you pronounce Yoshua?

It's said yoh-SHOO-ah /joʊˈʃu.ɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Yoshua a boy or girl name?

Yoshua is a boy's name.

How popular is Yoshua?

Yoshua is a rare spelling in the U.S.; Joshua is far more common.

💬 Ask Nia