Joseph
Joseph: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈd͡ʒəʊzɪf/ · /ˈd͡ʒoʊsəf/
Meaning and origin of Joseph
Root meaning: “one whose chastity is above temptation”
- A male given name from Hebrew.
Etymology
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is above temptation”) is a reference to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39.
How popular is Joseph?
Since 1880, 10,723 girls and 2,669,490 boys in the U.S. have been named Joseph (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #471 in 1883. Its highest rank for boys was #5 in 1912. In 2025 it ranked #29 for boys, with 7,315 babies given the name.
Names similar to Joseph
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Joseph
Sister and brother names that share Joseph's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Joseph FAQ
What does the name Joseph mean?
Joseph traces back to a root meaning "one whose chastity is above temptation". A male given name from Hebrew. From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is above temptation”) is a reference to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39.
What is the origin of the name Joseph?
Joseph is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Joseph?
Since 1880, 10,723 girls and 2,669,490 boys in the U.S. have been named Joseph (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #471 in 1883. Its highest rank for boys was #5 in 1912. In 2025 it ranked #29 for boys, with 7,315 babies given the name.
Is Joseph a boy or girl name?
Joseph is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 10,723 girls and 2,669,490 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.