Josef Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Josef has Hebrew origins and means 'He will add'. It evolved from 'Yosef' in Hebrew to 'Ioseph' in Greek and has various forms in different languages. The name is linked to biblical significance and has maintained a strong presence throughout history, often associated with notable figures.
The name Josef is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Josef has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Josef' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1653rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1897th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1304th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 845th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 768th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 990th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1903rd out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Josef' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Josef"
Pronunciation
/joʊˈzɛf/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Josef is derived from the Hebrew name 'Yosef', which means 'He will add' or 'God will increase'.
Meaning
He will add, God will increase
Language Evolution
Yosef (Hebrew), Ioseph (Greek), Iosephus (Latin), Joseph (English), Josef (German, Slavic languages)
Biblical Background
Josef is a prominent biblical name, associated with the son of Jacob and Rachel in the Old Testament.
Historical Usage
The name has been in use since ancient times, gaining popularity in various cultures, especially within Jewish and Christian communities.
Variants & Derivatives
Joseph, Jose, Yosef, Yoseph, Giuseppe
Modern Popularity & Image
Josef is viewed as a classic and timeless name, often associated with qualities of strength and leadership.
Famous People
Josef Stalin, Josef Mengele, Josef Koudelka
Explore More Josef Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Josef"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Josef"
"Josef" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1653rd of 7545 | 336 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1897th of 6773 | 269 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1304th of 7552 | 666 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 845th of 10718 | 1,475 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 768th of 16616 | 2,582 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 990th of 24088 | 2,808 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1903rd of 23106 | 970 |
Regional Popularity of "Josef" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
66.13% 912th/1379 |
- |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
60.15% 936th/1556 |
- |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
45.94% 1023rd/2227 |
32.84% 798th/2430 |
- |
38.99% 1082nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
25.88% 760th/2937 |
20.76% 723rd/3483 |
37.83% 1331st/3518 |
18.18% 735th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
18.40% 678th/3685 |
15.66% 701st/4475 |
20.18% 1048th/5194 |
11.64% 735th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
19.93% 913th/4582 |
17.89% 924th/5164 |
16.67% 1219th/7313 |
12.42% 927th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
56.58% 2254th/3984 |
29.77% 1336th/4487 |
31.79% 2169th/6822 |
28.25% 1773rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Josef" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Josef"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Josef" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.