Joseph

Joseph Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

JOH-sef

Meaning of Joseph: Joseph descends from the Hebrew Yosef, derived from the verb yasaf meaning to add or increase.

US Rank 2024

No. 32

Births

7,223

Peak Year

1912

The biblical patriarch Joseph, sold by his brothers into Egyptian slavery, rose to become vizier under Pharaoh through his interpretation of dreams. His Genesis narrative established the name across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, where Yusuf stands as a prophet revered in the twelfth sura of the Quran.

In the New Testament, Joseph of Nazareth serves as the earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary, reinforcing the name's Christian adoption. Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb for Jesus, added a second saintly figure that medieval European parents honored regularly.

What Does Joseph Mean? Origin & Etymology

According to US Social Security Administration records, Joseph held a position inside the US top 20 from 1880 through 2014, an unbroken 134-year run. The name peaked at rank five in 1912 during the immigrant surge from Italy, Poland, and Ireland.

As of 2024, Joseph holds rank 32 with 7,223 US births, softly descending from early 20th-century highs while remaining a steady classical pick. The name tops charts in Catholic countries including Ireland, Poland, and parts of Latin America, where Jose serves as the standard short form.

Variants across languages include Spanish Jose, Italian Giuseppe, French Joseph, Portuguese Jose, Arabic Yusuf, Russian Iosif, and Polish Jozef. Notably, the short forms Joe and Joey soften the formal register, making Joseph one of few classical biblical names that works in boardrooms and nurseries alike.

Name day: March 19

How Popular Is Joseph?

Numerology & Symbolism of Joseph

Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.

J(1) + O(6) + S(1) + E(5) + P(7) + H(8) = 28 = 1

Destiny number

Leadership

Sum of all letters, reduced to a single digit

Soul urge

Illumination

Sum of vowels only - reveals inner desires

Expression

Authority

Sum of consonants - how others perceive you

Letters 6

Vowels / consonants 2 / 4

Birthstone Ruby

Lucky color Red

1 Leadership Independent, driven, original — the initiator who forges new paths.

2 Harmony Diplomatic and cooperative, thriving through partnership and balance.

3 Expression Creative and communicative, bringing joy through art and words.

4 Stability Disciplined and dependable, building lasting structures through hard work.

5 Freedom Adventurous and adaptable, drawn to change, travel, and new experiences.

6 Nurturing Caring and responsible, focused on home, family, and community.

7 Wisdom Analytical and introspective, seeking truth through study and reflection.

8 Ambition Authoritative and goal-oriented, excelling in business and material achievement.

9 Compassion Humanitarian and idealistic, driven by a desire to serve and uplift others.

11 Intuition Master number: heightened sensitivity and spiritual insight beyond the ordinary.

22 Master Builder Master number: visionary practicality that turns ambitious dreams into reality.

33 Master Teacher Master number: selfless guidance and healing offered for the good of all.

Joseph – Similar Names & Alternatives

Noah

From Hebrew “noach” meaning rest or comfort; name of the…

James

From Hebrew “Yaaqov” meaning supplanter, via Greek Iakobos…

Mateo

From Hebrew “Mattityahu” meaning gift of God, from “matan”…

Elijah

From Hebrew ʼeliyyahu: “ʼel” (God) + “Yahu” (Yahweh),…

Benjamin

From Hebrew “Binyamin”: “ben” (son) + “yamin” (right hand),…

Levi

From Hebrew “levi” meaning joined or attached; name of the…

Ezra

From Hebrew “Ezra” meaning help or helper; name of the…

Jack

From Hebrew “Yochanan” meaning God is gracious, via Old…

Daniel

From Hebrew “Daniel”: “dan” (judge) + “el” (God), meaning…

Samuel

From Hebrew “Shemuel”: “shama” (heard) + “el” (God),…

Michael

From Hebrew “Mikhaʼel”: “mi” (who) + “kha” (like) + “el”…

Ethan

From Hebrew “Eitan” meaning strong, firm, or enduring; name…

Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph

What does Joseph mean?

Joseph means he will add or God will increase, from Hebrew Yosef (yasaf = to add). In Genesis, Joseph’s father Jacob gave him the coat of many colors, symbolizing the abundance the name promises.

What is the origin of Joseph?

Joseph originates from biblical Hebrew Yosef. The Genesis patriarch Joseph rose from slavery to vizier of Egypt. Twelve popes chose Joseph. President Biden is the most recent presidential bearer.

How popular is Joseph in the US?

Joseph ranks 32 for boys in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It has ranked in the top 35 every year since SSA records began in 1880—a 144-year streak of consistent popularity.

What are variants of Joseph?

Variants include Joe, Joey (English nicknames), Giuseppe (Italian), José (Spanish/Portuguese), Josef (German), Iosif (Eastern European), and Yusuf (Arabic).

Is Joseph more popular for girls or boys?

Joseph is given predominantly to boys. It ranks 32 for boys in the US in 2024 and does not appear in the top 1000 girls’ names.

Joseph – Name Variants & Spellings

Variant	Language
Yusuf	Arabic/Turkish
Joep	Dutch
Joe	English short form
Josef	German/Czech/Scandinavian
Yosef	Hebrew
Giuseppe	Italian
Iosif	Russian/Romanian/Greek
Jose	Spanish/Portuguese

AK No. 43 AL No. 19 AR No. 53 AZ No. 49 CA No. 49 CO No. 39 CT No. 10 DC No. 42 DE No. 62 FL No. 43 GA No. 32 HI No. 58 IA No. 54 ID No. 62 IL No. 26 IN No. 30 KS No. 28 KY No. 28 LA No. 11 MA No. 21 MD No. 39 ME No. 64 MI No. 42 MN No. 65 MO No. 40 MS No. 59 MT No. 34 NC No. 41 ND No. 22 NE No. 43 NH No. 27 NJ No. 4 NM No. 66 NV No. 58 NY No. 5 OH No. 30 OK No. 63 OR No. 43 PA No. 15 RI No. 13 SC No. 46 SD No. 90 TN No. 38 TX No. 45 UT No. 79 VA No. 30 VT No. 54 WA No. 37 WI No. 46 WV No. 33 WY No. 49