Joseph: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “he will add”
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Say it
- JOH-zef · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys
From Hebrew Yosef, traditionally understood as God will add or may he add. A major biblical name borne by Jacob's son and by the husband of Mary.
How popular is Joseph?
Babies named Joseph in 20247,223
2024 rank#32 boys
Peak year1914
Total US babies since 18802,672,746
Joseph is fading: recent use is about 67% of its level ten years before.
Names like Joseph
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Joseph questions
What does the name Joseph mean?
Joseph means "he will add". It comes from Hebrew. From Hebrew Yosef, traditionally understood as God will add or may he add. A major biblical name borne by Jacob's son and by the husband of Mary.
Is Joseph a boy or girl name?
Joseph is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Joseph?
7,223 US babies were named Joseph in 2024. Its peak year was 1914.
How do you pronounce Joseph?
Joseph is usually pronounced JOH-zef.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.