Josephine Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Josephine is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Josephine?
Josephine is spelled J-O-S-E-P-H-I-N-E. The name has 9 letters.
Josephine at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- The feminine form of Joseph, meaning “God will increase” or “he will add” in Hebrew.
- Origin
- Josephine is derived from the French form of the Hebrew name Yosef, conveyed through the masculine form Joseph to its feminine counterpart.
- Pronunciation
- jo-seh-FEEN · 3 syllables
Josephine Popularity in 2025
Rank#53
Recorded Births4,126
- Girls usage rose 3 places to #53 and recorded 361 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Josephine Mean?
The feminine form of Joseph, meaning “God will increase” or “he will add” in Hebrew.
Origin: Josephine is derived from the French form of the Hebrew name Yosef, conveyed through the masculine form Joseph to its feminine counterpart.
How Do You Pronounce Josephine?
Pronunciationjo-seh-FEEN
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Josephine?
- History
- The name Josephine has been used in French-speaking regions and beyond since at least the 18th century and gained wider recognition during the Napoleonic era.
Josephine Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 4,126 | #53 |
| 2024 | Girls | 3,765 | #56 |
| 2023 | Girls | 3,371 | #64 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5 | #12,239 |
| 2022 | Girls | 3,266 | #70 |
| 2021 | Girls | 3,391 | #72 |
| 2020 | Girls | 3,057 | #87 |
| 2019 | Girls | 3,123 | #90 |
| 2018 | Girls | 3,050 | #91 |
| 2017 | Girls | 2,823 | #107 |
| 2016 | Girls | 2,797 | #114 |
| 2015 | Girls | 2,505 | #131 |
| 2014 | Girls | 2,286 | #147 |
| 2013 | Girls | 2,012 | #160 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,957 | #160 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,730 | #181 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,677 | #185 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,628 | #201 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,635 | #208 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,562 | #223 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,548 | #221 |
| 2005 | Girls | 1,490 | #229 |
| 2004 | Girls | 1,337 | #242 |
| 2003 | Girls | 1,257 | #258 |
When Was Josephine Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Girls
8,682 recorded births
National rank #24
1917 · Girls
8,326 recorded births
National rank #21
1921 · Girls
8,135 recorded births
National rank #28
1916 · Girls
8,127 recorded births
National rank #21
Where Josephine Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #11 | 26 |
| VT | #11 | 15 |
| AK | #15 | 18 |
| MI | #17 | 186 |
| WI | #19 | 113 |
| MT | #20 | 24 |
| OH | #26 | 220 |
| IN | #26 | 124 |