Josephine
“God Will Add” — Associated with Empress Josephine
France origin · Unisex name
#64US 2023
3.4kBirths / yr
↑Rising
314.4kAll-time births
📅 Since 1880🏆 66 years in top 1000.78% of births at peak
How to pronounce Josephine
JOH·suf·een
/ˈdʒoʊ.səf.ˌiːn/ · stress on JOH · 3 syllables
“God Will Add”
Associated with Empress Josephine · France origin
What does Josephine mean and where does it come from?
Josephine is the feminine form of Joseph, which has Hebrew roots. The name gained popularity in the 19th century and is associated with Empress Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. It has been widely used in various cultures and retains a classic charm. The name is often shortened to Jos
Cultural significance
Josephine has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in France-speaking communities, where it reflects values of god will add.
Peak popularity
Reached #21 in 1916 — currently #64 in the US.
What middle names flow best with Josephine?
Josephine works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
Josephine Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Josephine Rose
Floral · soft ending
Josephine Mae
Sweet · timeless
Josephine Claire
French influence · crisp
Josephine Jane
Literary · strong
Josephine Skye
Modern · airy feel
How popular is Josephine right now?
Rising — up 6 spots — currently #64 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Josephine
Josephine has been a beloved American name for over 144 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1880. Its peak popularity was #21 in 1916. More than 314,383 babies have been named Josephine since 1880. Josephine is used for both genders: 100% female and 0% male.
Names that peaked alongside Josephine in 1916:
Josephine by decade
Josephine peaked in the 1910s. See all 1910s names →
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,749 | |
| 1890s | 12,500 | |
| 1900s | 18,861 | |
| 1910s | 61,514 | |
| 1920s ★ | 69,440 | |
| 1930s | 36,317 | |
| 1940s | 24,420 | |
| 1950s | 16,457 | |
| 1960s | 9,352 | |
| 1970s | 5,156 | |
| 1980s | 4,741 | |
| 1990s | 7,056 | |
| 2000s | 13,917 | |
| 2010s | 23,876 | |
| 2020s | 3,027 |
What are good nicknames for Josephine?
CROATIAN
FinkaIna
ENGLISH
JoJoettaJoeyJojoJoleenJoleneJosiePosiePosy
FINNISH
Iina
FRENCH
FifiJosetteJosiane
What names sound and feel like Josephine?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Josephine also consider these
How is Josephine written in other languages?
Gender variants of Josephine
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 YIDDISHMarjo DUTCH
Common questions about the name Josephine
What does the name Josephine mean?
Josephine means "God Will Add" — a name rooted in France 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 Josephine?
Josephine is currently ranked #64 in the United States as a baby name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Josephine have increased significantly in recent years.
What is the cultural origin of Josephine?
Josephine originates from France tradition. France names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Josephine?
Josephine is a three-syllable name pronounced JH OW1 S AH0 F IY2 N. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
What sibling names go well with Josephine?
Josephine pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar France heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.
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