Josetta
Feminine diminutive of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew name meaning "he will add".
Name Census estimates that about 406 living Americans carry the first name Josetta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Josetta today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Josetta births was 1968 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Josetta. 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
406
~ 1 in 844,223 Americans
Peak year
1968
27 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
2024 SSA rank
#16,314
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Josetta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Josetta from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 117 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
Josetta 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 Josetta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Josetta
The name Josetta is derived from the Hebrew name Joseph, which means "he will add" or "he will increase." It is a feminine form of the name Joseph and is most commonly found in Italy and other parts of Europe.
The name Joseph has its roots in the biblical figure Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel in the Book of Genesis. Joseph was one of the twelve tribes of Israel and played a significant role in the story of the Israelites' captivity in Egypt.
The earliest recorded use of the name Josetta dates back to the Middle Ages in Italy. It was a popular name among Italian families, particularly in regions like Tuscany and Umbria.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Josetta Benvenuti, an Italian painter and miniaturist who lived in the 15th century. She was renowned for her intricate and detailed works of art, particularly her illuminated manuscripts.
Another notable figure with the name Josetta was Josetta Fara, an Italian writer and poet who lived in the 16th century. She was part of the Italian Renaissance literary movement and was known for her lyrical poetry and sonnets.
In the 17th century, Josetta Caracciolo was a notable Italian noblewoman and philanthropist. She founded several charitable organizations and was known for her efforts in helping the poor and underprivileged.
Moving to the 18th century, Josetta Adriani was an Italian philosopher and writer. She was a proponent of the Enlightenment movement and wrote extensively on topics such as education, women's rights, and social reform.
Finally, in the 19th century, Josetta Torriani was an Italian opera singer and actress. She performed in various theaters across Europe and was particularly known for her roles in operas by composers like Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Josetta. While it may not be as widely used today, the name has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe.
People
Josetta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Josetta 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
Josetta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Josetta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 406 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Josetta 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 844,223 US residents.
Is Josetta a common name?
We classify Josetta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 519 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Josetta most popular?
The single biggest year for Josetta was 1968, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Josetta is about 54 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Josetta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Josetta in the SSA data are female. 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.