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    The first name Hosea

    A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “hosea”, “to save”.

    Pronounced /ˌhoʊˈziːə/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    Hosea means “hosea”, “to save” in Hebrew.

    From Latin Hōsēās, from Ancient Greek Ὡσηέ (Hōsēé), from Biblical Hebrew הוֹשֵׁעַ (hōšḗaʿ, “Hosea”), from the masculine singular imperative of הוֹשִׁיעַ (hoshía', “to save”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 11 boys were named Hosea, making it the 2,133rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 11 births (#2,027).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    104
    babies named Hosea, 1996–2025
    #2,133
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Hosea with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Hosea at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 67 boys born in the United States were named Hosea, the 2,154th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1925, when 74 were.

    04080 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    5,501
    babies named Hosea since 1880
    #2,154
    rank in 2025
    1925
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Hosea

    2 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Hosea Ballou
      American Universalist minister (1771–1852)
    • Ralph Chaplin
      American writer, artist and labor activist, 1887–1961

    More Hebrew boys’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Hosea mean?
    Hosea means “hosea”, “to save” in Hebrew.
    What is the origin of the name Hosea?
    From Latin Hōsēās, from Ancient Greek Ὡσηέ (Hōsēé), from Biblical Hebrew הוֹשֵׁעַ (hōšḗaʿ, “Hosea”), from the masculine singular imperative of הוֹשִׁיעַ (hoshía', “to save”).
    How popular is the name Hosea?
    In 2025, 11 boys born in England and Wales were named Hosea, ranking 2,133rd. Its peak was 2016, with 11 births.
    Is Hosea a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 5,501 US babies named Hosea since 1880 were boys.
    When was Hosea most popular?
    1925 in the United States, when 74 babies were named Hosea, its highest rank at 770th.
    How do you pronounce Hosea?
    Hosea is /ˌhoʊˈziːə/, 3 syllables.
    Is Hosea also a surname?
    Yes. Hosea is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.