Josiah
Josiah is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “God supports and heals.” It ranked #54 in the United States in 2025. From the Hebrew Yoshiyahu, meaning God supports.
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how do you pronounce Josiah?
joh-ZY-ah
where does the name Josiah come from?
From the Hebrew יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoshiyahu), joining a root generally understood as to heal or to support with Yah, the divine name. The first element is less certain than in most theophoric names, and translations vary between healed by Yahweh and supported by Yahweh.
In the Hebrew Bible, Josiah was a king of Judah renowned for his religious reforms and his discovery of the Book of the Law. The name was favored by Puritans and has seen a strong revival.
how popular is this name?
Josiah has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 79 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 67. It peaked at #45 in 2019, and ranked #54 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #54 |
| 2024 | #53 |
| 2023 | #52 |
| 2022 | #51 |
| 2021 | #49 |
| 2020 | #49 |
| 2019 | #45 |
| 2018 | #52 |
| 2017 | #51 |
| 2016 | #55 |
| 2010 | #77 |
| 2000 | #180 |
| 1990 | #355 |
| 1980 | #537 |
| 1890 | #603 |
| 1880 | #334 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Josiah fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Josiah
Josiah became king of Judah as a child and, according to the books of Kings and Chronicles, launched a sweeping religious reform after a scroll of the law was discovered during temple repairs — an episode many scholars connect to the composition of Deuteronomy. English Puritans took up the name and carried it to America.
who are famous people named Josiah?
- King Josiah (biblical ruler)
- Josiah Wedgwood (potter)
- Josiah Bartlet (The West Wing character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Josiah?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Josiah?
what names go well with Josiah?
Sibling names that share Josiah's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Josiah
What does the name Josiah mean?
Josiah means “God supports and heals”.
What is the origin of the name Josiah?
Josiah comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Josias and Yoshiyahu.
How popular is the name Josiah?
Josiah ranked #54 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2019, at #45, and it has spent 79 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Josiah a boy or girl name?
Josiah is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Josiah?
Josiah is pronounced joh-ZY-ah, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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