Josefa
“God increases”
Spanish origin · Girl name
#10681US 2023
9Births / yr
↓Falling
4kAll-time births
📅 Since 188100.01% of births at peak
How to pronounce Josefa
kho-se-fa(spanish)
/kho-se-fa(spanish)/ · · 3 syllables
“God increases”
Spanish origin · Girl name
What does Josefa mean and where does it come from?
Josefa is a feminine form of the name José, which has Hebrew origins, represented as יֹוסֵף (Yosef). The name means 'God will add' or 'He increases'. Josefa is common in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries and has been used in literature and the arts. Notable figures include Josefa de Ayala y
Cultural significance
Josefa has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in Spanish-speaking communities, where it reflects values of god increases.
Peak popularity
Reached #557 in 1890 — currently #10681 in the US.
What middle names flow best with Josefa?
Josefa works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
Josefa Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Josefa Rose
Floral · soft ending
Josefa Mae
Sweet · timeless
Josefa Claire
French influence · crisp
Josefa Jane
Literary · strong
Josefa Skye
Modern · airy feel
How popular is Josefa right now?
Falling — down 2433 spots — currently #10681 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Josefa
Josefa has been a beloved American name for over 143 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1881. With 4,003 total births recorded, Josefa remains relatively uncommon. Once ranked #692 in 1885, the name has become less common in recent years, sitting at #10681 in 2023.
Names that peaked alongside Josefa in 1890:
Josefa by decade
Josefa peaked in the 1890s. See all 1890s names →
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 88 | |
| 1890s | 192 | |
| 1900s | 230 | |
| 1910s | 482 | |
| 1920s ★ | 727 | |
| 1930s | 498 | |
| 1940s | 372 | |
| 1950s | 343 | |
| 1960s | 278 | |
| 1970s | 239 | |
| 1980s | 197 | |
| 1990s | 157 | |
| 2000s | 103 | |
| 2010s | 91 | |
| 2020s | 6 |
With 4,003 total births, Josefa is an uncommon but established name.
What are good nicknames for Josefa?
CROATIAN
FinkaInaJozefinaJožica
DANISH
Josefine
DUTCH
JosephineJozefien
ENGLISH
JoJodeneJodiJodieJodyJoettaJoeyJojoJoleenJoleneJosephinaJosephineJosiePosiePosy
Famous people named Josefa
J(
Josefa (Flamenco artist)
Josefa carried this name in the vibrant tradition of Spanish music and dance.
J(
Josefa (Spanish saint)
Josefa helped establish this name across the Spanish-speaking Catholic world.
J(
Josefa (Spanish royal)
Josefa held this name in the Spanish Crown, giving it aristocratic resonance across the Hispanic world.
J(
Josefa (Spanish conquistador or explorer)
Josefa bore this name during the Age of Exploration, spreading it across the Americas.
What names sound and feel like Josefa?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Josefa also consider these
How is Josefa written in other languages?
What are the boy versions of Josefa?
Yousef ARABICYoussef ARABICYusef ARABICYusuf ARABICHovsep ARMENIANYusif AZERBAIJANIJoseba BASQUEIoseph BIBLICAL GREEKIoses BIBLICAL GREEKYosef BIBLICAL HEBREWIoseph BIBLICAL LATINJoseph BIBLICALJoses BIBLICALYosif BULGARIANJosep CATALANJosip CROATIANJoško CROATIANJoso CROATIANJozo CROATIANJosef CZECHJosef DANISHJef DUTCHJoep DUTCHJoop DUTCHJoos DUTCHJoost DUTCHJos DUTCHJosephus DUTCHJozef DUTCHSjef DUTCHZef DUTCHJo ENGLISHJoe ENGLISHJoey ENGLISHJojo ENGLISHJoseph ENGLISHJoĉjo ESPERANTOJozefo ESPERANTOJoosep ESTONIANJooseppi FINNISHJuuso FINNISHJoseph FRENCHXosé GALICIANIoseb GEORGIANSoso GEORGIANJo GERMANJosef GERMANJoseph GERMANSepp GERMANSeppel GERMANIosif GREEKYosef HEBREWJosephus HISTORYJóska HUNGARIANJózsef HUNGARIANJózsi HUNGARIANSeosamh IRISHBeppe ITALIANGiuseppe ITALIANPeppe ITALIANPeppi ITALIANPeppino ITALIANPino ITALIANIosephus LATE ROMANJāzeps LATVIANJuozapas LITHUANIANJuozas LITHUANIANJosif MACEDONIANHohepa MAORIJosef NORWEGIANJosèp OCCITANIosifu OLD CHURCH SLAVICJózef POLISHJosé PORTUGUESEZé PORTUGUESEZezé PORTUGUESEIosif ROMANIANIosif RUSSIANOsip RUSSIANSeòsaidh SCOTTISHJosif SERBIANJozef SLOVAKJosip SLOVENEJože SLOVENEJožef SLOVENEJosé SPANISHJosepe SPANISHPepe SPANISHPepito SPANISHJosef SWEDISHYusuf TURKISHYosyp UKRAINIANYusup UYGHURYussel YIDDISH
Common questions about the name Josefa
What does the name Josefa mean?
Josefa means "God increases" — a name rooted in Spanish tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Josefa?
Josefa is currently a distinctive and less common name as a girl name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Josefa have increased significantly in recent years.
What is the cultural origin of Josefa?
Josefa originates from Spanish tradition. Spanish names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
What sibling names go well with Josefa?
Josefa pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar Spanish heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.
Is Josefa trending right now?
Josefa is currently on the rise — it has gained significant momentum in recent years as parents discover its appeal.
Parents who viewed Josefa also looked at…
Based on what other parents saved alongside Josefa