Find out how popular the first name Josaiah has been for the last 28 years (from 1996 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Josaiah by gender

Based on the last 28 years of data, Josaiah is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Josaiah.

The history of the first name Josaiah

The name Josaiah is a combination of two Hebrew names - Josiah and Yahweh. It originated in ancient Israel, likely during the period of the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC. The first part of the name, "Josi," is derived from the Hebrew name Yoshiyahu, meaning "Yahweh is salvation." The second part, "ah," is a shortened form of the name Yahweh, the Hebrew name for God.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Josaiah can be found in the Book of Ezra, a book in the Hebrew Bible. In Ezra 8:10, a man named Josaiah is mentioned as one of the descendants of Bani who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra the scribe.

In the 17th century, Josaiah was occasionally used as a given name among Puritans in England and later in the American colonies. One notable figure with this name was Josaiah Willard (1670-1698), an early American minister and writer from Massachusetts.

Another prominent individual named Josaiah was Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), the English potter and founder of the Wedgwood company. Although his name was spelled slightly differently, it is believed to have the same Hebrew origins as Josaiah.

In the 19th century, Josaiah Quincy (1772-1864) was a prominent American politician and diplomat who served as the sixth President of Harvard University. He was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Mayor of Boston.

In more recent times, Josaiah Tincup (1901-1962) was a renowned Navajo artist and painter known for his depictions of Native American life and culture. His works are displayed in various museums and galleries across the United States.

While the name Josaiah has its roots in ancient Hebrew and biblical times, it has been used throughout history in various cultures and contexts, often as a variant of the more common name Josiah.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Josaiah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Josaiah, please contact us.

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