Joseph

“God will add” — Hebrew origin

Boy's name · #29 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Joseph has held steady since 1880, standing at #29 in 2025. At one stretch it held the national top 10 for 56 consecutive years. Joseph's short forms are Joe, Joey, Joby, Joie, and Jos. Popular twin pairings with Joseph include Jacob, Joshua, and John for boys.

Around the world: #33 in Australia (NSW) (2025) · #54 in N. Ireland (2025) · #56 in Australia (QLD) (2025) · #59 in Canada (2024) · #60 in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Josephs

Joseph Stalin — leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953
Joseph Haydn — Austrian composer (1732–1809)
Joseph Fourier — French mathematician and physicist (1768 – 1830)
Joseph Conrad — Polish-British writer (1857–1924)
Joseph Brodsky — Russian-American poet (1940-1996)

In stories & tradition

Joseph — Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
Joseph of Arimathea — Gospel of Luke · Gospel of Matthew
Joseph (Lex Luthor) — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice · Superman

What Josephs become

Among 19,788 notable people named Joseph:

Lawyers & judges appear 2.08× more often than among typical names — e.g. Joseph de Maistre, Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer, and diplomat (1753-1821).

Similar names: Jose · David · John · James · Joshua · Daniel

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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