Josiah Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Josiah originates from Hebrew, meaning 'Yahweh has healed.' It evolved from Yoshiyahu to Josiah in English. The name is linked to traits of healing and leadership, with biblical relevance as a king who reformed Judah's worship practices.
The name Josiah is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Josiah has been too rising for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, 'Josiah' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1149th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1610th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1821st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 900th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 350th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 119th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 53rd out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 12632nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7686th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8285th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Josiah' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Josiah"
Pronunciation
/dʒəˈzaɪə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Josiah is derived from the Hebrew name Yoshiyahu, meaning 'Yahweh has healed.' It combines 'Yah' (short for Yahweh) and 'rapha' (to heal).
Meaning
Yahweh has healed
Language Evolution
Yoshiyahu (Hebrew), Josiah (English)
Biblical Background
Josiah is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, known as a king of Judah who initiated religious reforms.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Protestant Reformation and has remained in use since.
Variants & Derivatives
Josias, Yoshiyahu
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Josiah is viewed as a traditional yet strong name, often associated with wisdom and leadership.
Famous People
Josiah Wedgwood, the English potter and founder of the Wedgwood company., Josiah Quincy, an American politician and mayor of Boston.
Explore More Josiah Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Josiah"
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 "Josiah"
"Josiah" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1149th of 7545 | 603 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1610th of 6773 | 348 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1821st of 7552 | 352 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 900th of 10718 | 1,293 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 350th of 16616 | 10,415 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 119th of 24088 | 53,920 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 53rd of 23106 | 76,099 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 12632nd of 27321 | 60 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 7686th of 35406 | 232 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8285th of 30306 | 157 |
Regional Popularity of "Josiah" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
54.24% 748th/1379 |
81.45% 1927th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
68.44% 1065th/1556 |
91.29% 2148th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
58.68% 1426th/2430 |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
26.08% 766th/2937 |
29.97% 1044th/3483 |
35.56% 1251st/3518 |
16.67% 674th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
6.89% 254th/3685 |
7.96% 356th/4475 |
8.51% 442nd/5194 |
4.88% 308th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
2.86% 131st/4582 |
2.40% 124th/5164 |
1.64% 120th/7313 |
1.51% 113th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
1.66% 66th/3984 |
1.47% 66th/4487 |
0.57% 39th/6822 |
0.88% 55th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Josiah" 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) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Josiah"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Josiah" 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.