The name Joe is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "he will add" or "he will increase." The name has its origins in ancient Israel and is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Joe is a short form of the name Joseph, which was one of the most popular names given to boys in early Christianity. The name gained widespread use in Europe after the Middle Ages, with various spellings and diminutive forms emerging in different languages, such as Giuseppe in Italian, José in Spanish, and Josef in German.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joe can be found in the 16th century, when it began to appear as a diminutive form of Joseph in English-speaking regions. It is believed that the shortening of Joseph to Joe was influenced by the Dutch name Joo, which was a common variant of the name during that time.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Joe. One of the most famous is Joe Louis, the American professional boxer who held the world heavyweight championship from 1937 to 1949. He was born in 1914 and passed away in 1981.

Another well-known Joe is Joe DiMaggio, the American baseball player who spent his entire 13-year career with the New York Yankees. He was born in 1914 and died in 1999, and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Joe Frazier, born in 1944 and died in 2011, was an American professional boxer and undisputed world heavyweight champion. He is best known for his epic rivalry with Muhammad Ali, culminating in the "Thrilla in Manila" fight in 1975.

Joe Hill, born in 1879 and executed in 1915, was a Swedish-American labor activist and songwriter. He was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and became a notable figure in the labor movement in the early 20th century.

Joe Sakic, born in 1969, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent his entire career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL) and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.