Josephine
Josephine is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
God shall add or increase.
Origin and history
Josephine is a French feminine form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew name Yosef. It has been a classic and enduring name in the United States since record-keeping began in 1880. The name experienced a modern resurgence in popularity, returning to the top 100 U.S. female names in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
331,467 babies in the United States have been named Josephine since 1880. It ranks #118 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #64.
States where it is most popular
- NY (15.4 %)
- PA (9.2 %)
- CA (6.4 %)
- IL (5.7 %)
- TX (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7,732 |
| 1890-1900 | 12,463 |
| 1900-1910 | 18,785 |
| 1910-1920 | 61,355 |
| 1920-1930 | 69,223 |
| 1930-1940 | 36,051 |
| 1940-1950 | 24,324 |
| 1950-1960 | 16,412 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,317 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,154 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,732 |
| 1990-2000 | 7,059 |
| 2000-2010 | 13,924 |
| 2010-2019 | 23,960 |
| 2020-2029 | 20,976 |
Famous people named Josephine
- Josephine Baker: Entertainer, Civil Rights Activist
- Josephine Langford: Actress
Nicknames
Jo, Josie, Joey, Fifi
Fun facts
- The name gained international prominence through Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- After declining mid-century, Josephine has risen steadily in the U.S. since the early 2000s.