Joseph
Gender: Boy
Meaning: He will add; God will increase
Origin: Hebrew — from Yosef (יוֹסֵף), from yasaf (to add, to increase)
Popularity: Ranked #29 in 2025 with 7,303 babies born.
History: Joseph is one of the great patriarch names of the Bible — the dreamer sold into slavery in Egypt who rose to become Pharaoh's right hand. It was also the name of the earthly father of Jesus, making it doubly sacred across Christian traditions. Joseph has been in the U.S. top 20 for virtually every year since records began, a testament to its cross-cultural, cross-faith staying power. Joe and Joey make it warm and everyman; Joseph itself is timeless and dignified.
Famous people named Joseph: Joseph Stalin (historical figure), Joseph Biden (president), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (actor)
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Joseph? About 1 in 455 babies born in 2025 were named Joseph, or roughly 20 per day in the United States.
Explore more baby names at BabyNa.me — 29,000+ names with meanings, origins, and popularity trends.
Loading name...
Frequently asked about Joseph
What does the name Joseph mean?
Joseph means “He will add; God will increase” from Hebrew — from Yosef (יוֹסֵף), from yasaf (to add, to increase) roots.
What is the origin of the name Joseph?
Joseph has Hebrew — from Yosef (יוֹסֵף), from yasaf (to add, to increase) origin. The traditional meaning is “He will add; God will increase”.
How popular is Joseph?
Joseph ranked #29 in 2025 — given to 7,303 babies that year.
When was Joseph most popular?
Joseph peaked in 1956 with 32,748 babies registered that year.
Is Joseph a boy or girl name?
Joseph is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Josephs in registered births are male.
Is the name Joseph rising or falling in popularity?
Joseph has risen 10224 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #10253 in 2020 to #29 in 2025.
How long has Joseph been recorded?
Joseph appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.