Joseph
Joseph is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “God will add; God will increase.” It ranked #18 in the United States in 2025. From the Hebrew Yosef, meaning God will add.
how do you pronounce Joseph?
JOH-sef
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Joseph mean?
The name Joseph means “God will add; God will increase.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
From the Hebrew Yosef, meaning God will add. In the Bible, Joseph was the beloved son of Jacob who rose from slavery to become viceroy of Egypt. The name has been universally popular across Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.
where does the name Joseph come from?
From the Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yosef), meaning he will add or may God increase. Genesis records Rachel naming him with the wish that God add to her another son, so the name is a petition for what comes next rather than a comment on the child at hand.
the history of Joseph
Two men called Joseph frame the New Testament story — the husband of Mary, and Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb — while the Joseph of Genesis, sold by his brothers and risen to govern Egypt, anchors the Hebrew Bible narrative. The name is shared by Judaism, Christianity and Islam, where he is Yusuf, and it has never left common English use.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #18 |
| 2023 | #18 |
| 2022 | #19 |
| 2021 | #20 |
| 2020 | #20 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Joseph?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Joseph?
- Joseph (biblical patriarch)
- Joseph Biden (U.S. president)
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt (actor)
what names are similar to Joseph?
what names go well with Joseph?
Sibling names that share Joseph's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Joseph? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation