Josephine
JOH-sih-feen
The name Josephine is the French feminine form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew Yosēp (יוֹסֵף), meaning “he will add” or “may God increase,” from the verb yāsap.
The form developed in medieval France as Josèphe and later Joséphine, with the diminutive -ine suffix common to French feminine names. Italian and Spanish produced parallel forms Giuseppina and Josefina, while German used Josephine and Josefine.
Although feminine forms of Joseph existed earlier, the name’s prominence dates to Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress of the French from 1804 to 1810.
What the name Josephine means
Born Marie Josephe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie on the Caribbean island of Martinique, she was renamed Joséphine by Napoleon himself.
Her patronage of fashion, the arts, and the gardens at Malmaison shaped European style for decades and made her name fashionable across the continent.
Literary bearers include the title character of Franz Kafka’s final story Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk (1924), Josephine March of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (1868), and Josephine Bell, the British detective novelist.
The American-born French entertainer Josephine Baker (1906-1975), star of the Folies Bergère and a French Resistance agent, became one of the most internationally recognized bearers of the 20th century. She was inducted into the Panthéon in 2021.
In the United States, Josephine ranked within the top 50 from 1880 through 1932, peaking at rank 19 in 1916. It declined steadily until 2003, when it began a sharp revival as part of the broader Edwardian-name resurgence.
By 2017 it had returned to the top 100, and by 2023 it reached the top 75. The name remains popular in France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy.
Contemporary bearers include British actress Josephine de La Baume and singer Josephine Vander Heyden.
The cluster of nicknames available - Josie, Jo, Posey, Fifi, Joey - and the name’s blend of imperial history with literary warmth have driven its enduring revival.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Josephine
Josephine - similar names
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Ways to spell Josephine
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Josie | English diminutive |
| Jo | English short form |
| Josephina | English variant |
| Fifi | French/informal diminutive |
| Josefine | German/Scandinavian |
| Giuseppina | Italian |
| Josefina | Spanish/Portuguese |