Joseph first name popularity, history and meaning

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.

Meaning of Joseph

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

Popularity of Joseph by gender

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 history of the first name Joseph

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:

  1. Joseph, the son of Jacob (born circa 1700 BCE): The biblical patriarch whose story is told in the Book of Genesis.
  2. Joseph the Betrothed (1st century BCE/CE): The husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, according to Christian tradition.
  3. Joseph of Arimathea (1st century CE): A wealthy Jewish disciple of Jesus who provided the tomb for his burial, according to the New Testament.
  4. Joseph ben Matthias (37-100 CE): A Jewish historian and scholar, better known as Flavius Josephus, who wrote extensively about Jewish history and the First Jewish-Roman War.
  5. Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): An Austrian composer of the Classical period, considered one of the most influential figures in the development of the symphony and string quartet.

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.

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 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 December 4, 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 4 December, 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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