Joseph
Joseph is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
He will add; God shall add.
Origin and history
Joseph is a classic Biblical name derived from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning 'he will add'. It has been a top choice in the United States for centuries, consistently ranking among the most used male names in American history. Today, it remains extremely popular and widely recognized across various cultures and traditions.
Popularity in the United States
2,669,490 babies in the United States have been named Joseph since 1880. It ranks #7 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #28.
States where it is most popular
- NY (13.5 %)
- PA (10 %)
- CA (7 %)
- NJ (5.4 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 26,292 |
| 1890-1900 | 29,000 |
| 1900-1910 | 35,173 |
| 1910-1920 | 179,300 |
| 1920-1930 | 243,809 |
| 1930-1940 | 180,566 |
| 1940-1950 | 230,285 |
| 1950-1960 | 300,012 |
| 1960-1970 | 283,048 |
| 1970-1980 | 244,825 |
| 1980-1990 | 299,411 |
| 1990-2000 | 260,751 |
| 2000-2010 | 194,962 |
| 2010-2019 | 115,722 |
| 2020-2029 | 46,334 |
Famous people named Joseph
- Joseph Biden: President, Politician
- Joseph Campbell: Author, Mythologist
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Actor, Filmmaker
Nicknames
Joe, Joey, Seph
Fun facts
- Joseph ranks as the 7th most popular boy name in the United States based on cumulative birth records since 1880.
- The name traces back to the Hebrew root 'yasaf', which means to add or increase.