Home › Baby Names Directory › Yousuf

Yousuf

♂ Boy

Pronounced YOO-soof /ˈjuː.suf/Medium

Meaning: He will addMedium

In 30 seconds: Yousuf is an Arabic form of Joseph, traditionally read as 'he will add' or 'God will increase.' It is widely used across the Muslim world.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumArabic, Urdu, Bengali
MeaningHe will add
U.S. rank (2024)#1802 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births91 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,664

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219832024

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

History & Origin

The name goes back to the Hebrew source behind Joseph, understood to mean 'he will add,' and Arabic gives it the form Yousuf. It is a deeply familiar name in Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities. Bearers listed include Yousuf Al-Thunayan and Yousuf Hussain.

The same name appears in a cluster of spellings — Yousef, Yousif, Youssef, Yusef, and Yusuf — reflecting how it is transliterated from Arabic in different ways. All share the sense of increase and addition.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Yousuf is 'he will add', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Yousuf — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

YousefYousifYoussefYusefYusuf

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Yousuf Al-Thunayan (1963–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Yousuf Hussain (1965–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Yousuf…

Yusuf— the most common transliteration of the same Arabic name as Yousuf
Youssef— a French-influenced spelling of the same name in Yousuf's variations
Yousef— an alternate transliteration sharing Yousuf's meaning and sound
Joseph— the English form Yousuf corresponds to, from the same root
Yousif— another spelling of the same Arabic name carried in Yousuf's list

Frequently Asked

What does the name Yousuf mean?

Yousuf is usually explained as meaning 'he will add' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Yousuf?

It's commonly said YOO-soof /ˈjuː.suf/.

Is Yousuf a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Yousuf is used as a boy name.

How popular is Yousuf?

In 2024, Yousuf ranked #1802 in the U.S. for boys, with 91 births recorded.