Find out how popular the first name Josif has been for the last 6 years (from 1998 to 2003) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Josif by gender

Based on the last 6 years of data, Josif is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2003, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Josif.

The history of the first name Josif

The name Josif originates from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "he will add" or "he will increase". It has its roots in the biblical figure Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, who is a prominent character in the Book of Genesis.

The name Josif is a variant spelling found in several Slavic languages, including Russian, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian. This variant likely emerged due to the influence of the Byzantine Empire and the spread of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Josif can be found in the Old Church Slavonic translation of the Bible, dating back to the 9th century. This translation played a crucial role in the spread of the name throughout the Slavic world.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Josif. One of the most famous is Josif Vissarionovich Stalin (1878-1953), the former leader of the Soviet Union. Another prominent figure is Josif Brodsky (1940-1996), a Russian-American poet and essayist who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987.

In the realm of religion, Josif Sanin (1837-1891) was a Russian Orthodox monk and saint known for his asceticism and spiritual teachings. Josif Volotsky (1439-1515) was a prominent Russian Orthodox monk and theologian who played a significant role in the development of the Church's monastic tradition.

Furthermore, Josif Semashko (1798-1868) was a prominent figure in the Uniate Church (also known as the Greek Catholic Church), which sought to unite Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. He served as the Uniate Metropolitan of Kyiv and was instrumental in the church's growth in the Russian Empire.

These examples illustrate the historical significance and widespread use of the name Josif across various cultures, religions, and contexts throughout history.

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

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

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