Joselito
Diminutive Spanish form of Joseph, derived from Hebrew meaning "he will add".
Name Census estimates that about 692 living Americans carry the first name Joselito. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Joselito today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Joselito births was 1973 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Joselito. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
692
~ 1 in 495,310 Americans
Peak year
1973
36 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
2012 SSA rank
#9,265
Tracked since 1961
Popularity
Joselito: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Joselito from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 245 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Joselito by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Joselito during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Joselitos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, California recorded the most babies named Joselito, while Illinois, California, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 48 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Joselito
The name Joselito is a Spanish diminutive form of the name Jose, which is derived from the Hebrew name Joseph. Joseph, in turn, comes from the Hebrew words "yasaf" meaning "to add" and "Yahweh" meaning "God." The name Joselito emerged in Spain during the Middle Ages, likely as an affectionate diminutive used to refer to young boys named Jose.
The name Joselito can be traced back to medieval Spain, where it was particularly popular in regions with a strong Catholic tradition. It is believed that the name gained popularity due to its association with Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ in Christian theology. Saint Joseph is revered in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of workers, fathers, and a happy death.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joselito can be found in the 14th-century Spanish epic poem "El Cantar de Mio Cid," which tells the story of the legendary Castilian knight El Cid. In the poem, a character named Joselito is mentioned as a page or attendant to one of the main characters.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Joselito. One of the most famous was Joselito (Jose Gomez Ortega), a celebrated Spanish bullfighter who lived from 1895 to 1920. He was known for his exceptional skill and artistry in the bullring, and his untimely death at the age of 25 caused great mourning in Spain.
Another notable figure was Joselito el Gallo (Jose Rafael Gomez Ortega), a Spanish flamenco singer and dancer who lived from 1895 to 1973. He was renowned for his contributions to the development of the flamenco art form and his unique vocal style.
In the realm of literature, Joselito Hernandez was a Mexican poet and writer who lived from 1937 to 2002. He was known for his poetry collections, which explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Joselito Carrera was a Puerto Rican baseball player who played in the Negro Leagues during the 1930s and 1940s. He was considered one of the best defensive outfielders of his era and played for several famous teams, including the Kansas City Monarchs.
Finally, Joselito Fernandez was a Cuban-American artist and sculptor who lived from 1923 to 2006. He was known for his abstract metal sculptures and his contributions to the development of modern art in the United States.
People
Joselito + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Joselito as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Joselito: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Joselito?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 692 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Joselito going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 495,310 US residents.
Is Joselito a common name?
We classify Joselito as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 742 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Joselito most popular?
The single biggest year for Joselito was 1973, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Joselito is about 45 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Joselito a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Joselito in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.