Josephine
Josephine Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
JOH-sih-feen
Meaning of Josephine: Josephine is the French feminine form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning "He will add" or "God will increase." Joseph was a central figure in the Old Testament, and his name spread through Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions across multiple continents over centuries.
The feminine form Josephine gained international recognition through Josephine de Beauharnais, Empress of the French and first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1804 to 1809. Her role as empress made Josephine a prestige name across Europe and its colonial territories. See etymology records.
In the United States, Josephine ranked in the top 20 from 1885 through 1915, peaking at rank 11 in 1916. A long decline followed as the name came to be perceived as old-fashioned. A revival began around 2000, driven by the broader trend of reclaiming Victorian-era names with classical weight.
What Does Josephine Mean? Origin & Etymology
SSA records places Josephine at rank 56 in 2024 with 3,746 births, its highest position since the 1940s. Its trajectory closely mirrors other Victorian-revival names — Eleanor, Matilda, Adelaide — that re-entered the top 100 between 2010 and 2024. Track at SSA Baby Names.
Common nicknames include Josie, Jo, and Fifi. Josie has operated as a standalone name since the 19th century, and both Josie and Jo appear independently in current SSA records. These short forms give Josephine functional versatility across formal and informal naming contexts.
Josephine Baker (1906-1975), the American-born French entertainer and civil rights activist, is among the most prominent cultural bearers of the name. Her career in Paris and her activism during World War II gave Josephine an association with courage, artistry, and cross-cultural identity.
How Popular Is Josephine?
Numerology & Symbolism of Josephine
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Josephine – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Josephine
What does Josephine mean?
What is the origin of Josephine?
Josephine is the French feminine of Joseph. Empress Josephine of France (1763-1814) made it a royal name. It ranked in the US top 50 from 1880 to 1930 before a 2010s vintage revival.
How popular is Josephine in the US?
Josephine ranks 56 for girls in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It entered the top 100 in 2013 and the top 75 in 2019. Josephine is also popular in France, Australia, and the UK.
What are variants of Josephine?
Variants include Jo, Josie, Josey (nicknames), Joséphine (French with accent), Giuseppina (Italian), and Josefina (Spanish/Portuguese).
Is Josephine more popular for girls or boys?
Josephine is given almost exclusively to girls. It ranks 56 for girls in the US in 2024 and does not appear in the top 1000 boys’ names.
Josephine – Name Variants & Spellings
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Josie | English diminutive |
| Jo | English short form |
| Josephina | English variant |
| Fifi | French/informal diminutive |
| Josefine | German/Scandinavian |
| Giuseppina | Italian |
| Josefina | Spanish/Portuguese |