The first name Josef

In 2025, 14 boys were named Josef, making it the 1,798th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1999, with 96 births (#283).

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

In 2025, 44 boys born in the United States were named Josef, the 2,860th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1999, when 220 were.

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.

• Josef Stefan
  Carinthian Slovene physicist, mathematician and poet (1835-1893)
• Josef Čapek
  Czech painter and writer (1887–1945)
• Josef Albers
  German-American designer, painter, educator and typographer (1888–1976)
• Josef Masopust
  Czech footballer (1931-2015)
• Josef von Sternberg
  Austrian-American film director (1894-1969)
• Josef Bican
  Austrian-Czech footballer (1913–2001)
• Josef Dobrovský
  Czech historian, lexicographer, linguist, literature historian, religion writer, science w, 1753–1829
• Josef Hoffmann
  Austrian architect and product designer (1870-1956)
• Johann Josef Loschmidt
  Austrian chemist and physicist (1821–1895)
• Josef Suk
  Czech composer and violinist (1874-1935)
• Josef Breuer
  Austrian physician (1842-1925)
• Josef Škvorecký
  Czech-Canadian writer and publisher (1924-2012)

How popular is the name Josef?

In 2025, 14 boys born in England and Wales were named Josef, ranking 1,798th. Its peak was 1999, with 96 births.

Is Josef a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 9,158 US babies named Josef since 1880 were boys.

When was Josef most popular?

1999 in the United States, when 220 babies were named Josef, its highest rank at 738th.

What name is Josef a form of?

Josef is a form of Joseph.