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

Popularity of Josie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Josie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Josie being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,504 female babies and 10 male babies born with the name Josie.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 10 baby boys were named Josie in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Josie

The name Josie is a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Josiah, which means "God supports" or "God heals." It is derived from the Hebrew words "yeho" meaning "God" and "shav'ah" meaning "to cry out for help." The name Josiah has been in use since ancient times and is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it refers to several kings of Judah.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Josie dates back to the late 19th century. It gained popularity in English-speaking countries as a shortened version of the name Josephine, which itself is a feminine form of the name Joseph. The name Josephine has French origins and can be traced back to the 17th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Josie. One of the earliest was Josie Bassett (1867-1936), an American teacher and philanthropist who founded the Josie Bassett Fund to support education in rural areas. Another notable Josie was Josie Sedgwick (1887-1930), an American silent film actress who appeared in numerous movies in the early 20th century.

In the world of sports, Josie Cruickshank (1902-1984) was a Scottish golfer who won the British Ladies Amateur Championship in 1924. Josie Brill (1906-1988) was an American vaudeville performer and actress who appeared in several Broadway productions in the 1920s and 1930s.

More recently, Josie Rizal (1865-1945) was a Filipino activist and educator who played a significant role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. She was the sister of the national hero José Rizal and was actively involved in the propagation of the Rizal ideology.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Josie throughout history, showcasing its enduring popularity and the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne this 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 Josie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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