boys' name · peaked 2002

Jose

From Spanish/Portuguese José, from Hebrew.

Every Jose since 1880 — 596,732 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
1.883.755.637.518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#95
among boys
Babies in 2025
3,678
named Jose
Peak year
2002
12,916 babies
All-time total
596,732
since 1880

The story of Jose

Jose is a top-100 name for boys in the United States, ranked #95 in 2025 with 3,678 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 596,732 American babies have been named Jose. Its peak came in 2002, when 12,916 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Jose stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Jose year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 3,678 #95
2024 6 #14,266 3,784 #91
2023 8 #11,660 3,725 #93
2022 8 #11,679 4,031 #88
2021 7 #12,794 4,002 #89
2020 10 #9,867 3,855 #94
2019 6 #14,602 4,135 #92
2018 9 #10,959 4,318 #89
2017 6 #14,936 4,815 #81
2016 11 #9,722 5,119 #77
2015 11 #9,775 5,177 #80
2014 10 #10,512 5,485 #76
2013 6 #15,485 5,627 #76
2012 13 #8,864 6,041 #72
2011 11 #10,027 6,766 #65
2010 19 #6,765 7,703 #52
2009 12 #9,674 8,818 #43
2008 22 #6,244 9,826 #40
2007 25 #5,603 11,252 #35
2006 32 #4,510 11,604 #30
2005 37 #3,910 12,065 #30
2004 46 #3,294 12,187 #28
2003 32 #4,148 12,394 #30
2002 48 #3,035 12,868 #30
2001 56 #2,676 12,144 #34
2000 55 #2,686 12,585 #34
1995 73 #1,908 11,781 #35
1990 113 #1,401 11,519 #41
1985 90 #1,417 8,403 #49
1980 88 #1,411 8,323 #46
1975 81 #1,338 6,967 #48
1970 60 #1,586 5,691 #56
1965 42 #1,755 3,966 #89
1960 44 #1,707 3,915 #107
1955 24 #2,246 3,313 #104
1950 21 #2,157 2,638 #109
1945 16 #2,191 1,607 #132
1940 13 #2,359 1,169 #148
1935 19 #1,812 1,168 #135
1930 45 #1,108 1,600 #113
1925 15 #2,433 1,449 #125
1920 11 #2,997 1,241 #130
1915 7 #3,612 659 #174
1910 6 #2,281 249 #134
1905 5 #2,081 200 #108
1900 161 #137
1895 104 #149
1890 93 #151
1885 111 #123
1880 84 #161

Famous people named Jose

  1. Jose P. Laurel Politician · 1891–1959
  2. Jose Maria Sison Politician · b. 1939
  3. Jose Tomas Sanchez Religious figure · 1920–2012
  4. Jose Baxter Soccer player · b. 1992

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Jose mean?

From Spanish/Portuguese José, from Hebrew.

How popular is the name Jose in 2025?

Jose ranked #95 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 3,678 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Jose?

596,732 babies have been named Jose in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Jose most popular?

Jose peaked in 2002, when 12,916 newborns received the name.

Is Jose a boy or girl name?

Jose is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Jose rising or falling?

Jose is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Jose?

Well-known people named Jose include Jose P. Laurel (politician), Jose Maria Sison (politician), Jose Tomas Sanchez (religious figure).

Names like Jose

Compare Jose with similar names →