Find out how popular the first name Josh has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Josh by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Josh is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 89 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Josh.

The history of the first name Josh

The name Josh is an English diminutive derived from the Hebrew name Joshua. Joshua comes from the Hebrew "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua" meaning "Yahweh is salvation." It is a name with biblical origins and deep historical roots.

The name Joshua first appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. He was a former aide to Moses who succeeded him as the leader of the Israelites and led them into the Promised Land of Canaan. Joshua is credited with conquering the land and dividing it among the twelve tribes of Israel.

Early records of the name Josh as a shortened form of Joshua date back to the 17th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name was Josh Downing, an English tailor born in 1667. Another early example is Josh Hudleston, an English author born in 1700.

Over the centuries, there have been several notable individuals with the first name Josh. Josh Billings, born Henry Wheeler Shaw in 1818, was an American humorist and lecturer known for his witty sayings. Josh White, born in 1914 and died in 1969, was an influential American singer, guitarist, and civil rights activist.

In the realm of sports, Josh Gibson, born in 1911 and died in 1947, was a legendary baseball catcher in the Negro Leagues. Josh Cribbs, born in 1983, is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a wide receiver and return specialist.

More recently, Josh Groban, born in 1981, is a renowned American singer, songwriter, and actor known for his baritone voice and classical crossover music. These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Josh.

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 Josh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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