Find out how popular the first name Joseph has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Based on the last 50 years of data, Joseph is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Joseph being male.
For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7,237 male babies and 12 female babies born with the name Joseph.
Yes—according to the SSA data, 12 baby girls were named Joseph in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!
Year | Male Count | Female Count |
---|---|---|
2023 | 7,237 | 12 |
2022 | 7,771 | 7 |
2021 | 8,129 | 8 |
2020 | 8,458 | 9 |
2019 | 9,152 | 16 |
2018 | 9,656 | 15 |
2017 | 10,467 | 19 |
2016 | 10,955 | 13 |
2015 | 11,521 | 12 |
2014 | 12,137 | 6 |
2013 | 12,268 | 20 |
2012 | 12,582 | 16 |
2011 | 12,987 | 23 |
2010 | 13,848 | 16 |
2009 | 14,937 | 20 |
2008 | 16,590 | 30 |
2007 | 17,347 | 28 |
2006 | 18,459 | 29 |
2005 | 19,229 | 36 |
2004 | 20,139 | 103 |
2003 | 21,382 | 31 |
2002 | 21,913 | 35 |
2001 | 22,025 | 27 |
2000 | 22,842 | 24 |
1999 | 23,216 | 44 |
1998 | 23,185 | 50 |
1997 | 23,600 | 45 |
1996 | 24,757 | 52 |
1995 | 25,344 | 62 |
1994 | 25,731 | 77 |
1993 | 27,011 | 67 |
1992 | 27,903 | 68 |
1991 | 29,835 | 88 |
1990 | 30,127 | 84 |
1989 | 29,880 | 139 |
1988 | 29,015 | 182 |
1987 | 28,526 | 217 |
1986 | 28,835 | 208 |
1985 | 30,221 | 227 |
1984 | 30,513 | 211 |
1983 | 30,455 | 211 |
1982 | 31,051 | 196 |
1981 | 30,766 | 186 |
1980 | 30,189 | 217 |
1979 | 28,655 | 209 |
1978 | 26,669 | 180 |
1977 | 26,490 | 176 |
1976 | 24,063 | 142 |
1975 | 22,131 | 132 |
1974 | 21,835 | 124 |
The name Joseph has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "he will add" or "he will increase." The name can be traced back to the biblical patriarch Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, whose story is recounted in the Book of Genesis.
The name Joseph appears prominently in various religious texts, most notably the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. In the Bible, Joseph is portrayed as a virtuous and wise man who interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and rose to a position of power in ancient Egypt. His story is one of resilience, forgiveness, and divine providence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joseph dates back to around 1500 BCE, when it was found inscribed on an Egyptian papyrus document. Throughout history, the name has been popular among many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Notable historical figures with the name Joseph include:
The name Joseph has endured across centuries and cultures, carrying with it a rich history and symbolism. Its biblical roots, combined with its association with notable figures throughout history, have contributed to its enduring popularity as a given name.
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 Joseph was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Joseph, please contact us.
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"Joseph first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 7, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/joseph-meaning-and-history/.
"Joseph first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/joseph-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 7 September, 2024
Joseph first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/joseph-meaning-and-history/.
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