Joshua
Gender: Boy
Meaning: God is salvation; the Lord saves
Origin: Hebrew — from Yehoshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), the same root as Jesus
Popularity: Ranked #66 in 2025 with 4,773 babies born.
History: Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses — a name synonymous with courage, leadership, and faith. Interestingly, Jesus is the Greek form of the same name, making Joshua and Jesus linguistic cousins. The name entered the U.S. top 10 in the 1970s and stayed there for over three decades, peaking at #2 in the 1980s and 1990s. Josh is one of America's most natural and likable nicknames — friendly, strong, and unpretentious.
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Joshua? About 1 in 697 babies born in 2025 were named Joshua, or roughly 13.1 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Joshua
What does the name Joshua mean?
Joshua means “God is salvation; the Lord saves” from Hebrew — from Yehoshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), the same root as Jesus roots.
What is the origin of the name Joshua?
Joshua has Hebrew — from Yehoshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), the same root as Jesus origin. The traditional meaning is “God is salvation; the Lord saves”.
How popular is Joshua?
Joshua ranked #66 in 2025 — given to 4,773 babies that year.
When was Joshua most popular?
Joshua peaked in 1989 with 44,099 babies registered that year.
Is Joshua a boy or girl name?
Joshua is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Joshuas in registered births are male.
Is the name Joshua rising or falling in popularity?
Joshua has risen 10186 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #10252 in 2020 to #66 in 2025.
How long has Joshua been recorded?
Joshua appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.