The first name Joseph
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “(god) shall add”, “one whose chastity is above temptation”.
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒoʊsəf/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Joseph means “(god) shall add”, “one whose chastity is above temptation” in Hebrew.
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is above temptation”) is a reference to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 811 boys were named Joseph, making it the 59th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 6,193 births (#8).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Joseph with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Joseph at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 7,303 boys born in the United States were named Joseph, the 29th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1956, when 32,749 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.
Joseph in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Joseph in French too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Joseph
1,706 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Joseph HaydnAustrian composer (1732–1809)
- Joseph FourierFrench mathematician and physicist (1768 – 1830)
- Joseph John ThomsonBritish physicist (1856-1940)
- Joseph SmithAmerican religious leader and founder of the Latter Day Saint movement (1805–1844)
- Franz Joseph I of AustriaEmperor of Austria and King of Hungary (1830–1916)
- Joseph PriestleyEnglish chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733–1804)
- Joseph AddisonEnglish essayist, poet, playwright and politician (1672–1719)
- Joseph Louis Gay-LussacFrench chemist and physicist (1778–1850)
- Joseph ListerBritish surgeon and antiseptic pioneer (1827–1912)
- Joseph SchumpeterAustrian political economist (1883–1950)
- Joseph McCarthyAmerican politician (1908–1957)
- Joseph Gordon-LevittAmerican actor and filmmaker (born 1981)
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Joseph mean?
- Joseph means “(god) shall add”, “one whose chastity is above temptation” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Joseph?
- From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf. Noun sense 1 (“one whose chastity is above temptation”) is a reference to the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39.
- How popular is the name Joseph?
- In 2025, 811 boys born in England and Wales were named Joseph, ranking 59th. Its peak was 1996, with 6,193 births.
- What are nicknames for Joseph?
- Common nicknames for Joseph include Joss, Jos, Joie, Joby, Jo, Joe.
- Is Joseph a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 2,680,213 US babies named Joseph since 1880 were boys.
- When was Joseph most popular?
- 1956 in the United States, when 32,749 babies were named Joseph, its highest rank at 12th.
- How do you pronounce Joseph?
- Joseph is /ˈd͡ʒoʊsəf/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Joseph?
- Josef.
- Is Joseph also a surname?
- Yes. Joseph is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.