Josef
A male given name, variant of Joseph.
Every Josef since 1900 — 9,158 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Josef
Josef is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,860 in 2025 with 44 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1900, 9,158 American babies have been named Josef. Its peak came in 1999, when 220 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Josef stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Josef year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #2,860 |
| 2024 | 63 | #2,275 |
| 2023 | 61 | #2,301 |
| 2022 | 59 | #2,393 |
| 2021 | 72 | #2,047 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2,123 |
| 2019 | 81 | #1,857 |
| 2018 | 84 | #1,814 |
| 2017 | 81 | #1,834 |
| 2016 | 92 | #1,701 |
| 2015 | 91 | #1,710 |
| 2014 | 113 | #1,450 |
| 2013 | 108 | #1,508 |
| 2012 | 95 | #1,632 |
| 2011 | 137 | #1,260 |
| 2010 | 129 | #1,327 |
| 2009 | 125 | #1,372 |
| 2008 | 158 | #1,151 |
| 2007 | 165 | #1,110 |
| 2006 | 191 | #974 |
| 2005 | 218 | #846 |
| 2004 | 185 | #920 |
| 2003 | 188 | #894 |
| 2002 | 195 | #852 |
| 2001 | 211 | #797 |
| 2000 | 198 | #814 |
| 1995 | 168 | #830 |
| 1990 | 166 | #789 |
| 1985 | 172 | #678 |
| 1980 | 151 | #708 |
| 1975 | 107 | #806 |
| 1970 | 93 | #838 |
| 1965 | 66 | #915 |
| 1960 | 53 | #1,063 |
| 1955 | 38 | #1,230 |
| 1950 | 18 | #1,780 |
| 1945 | 20 | #1,512 |
| 1940 | 14 | #1,941 |
| 1935 | 14 | #1,985 |
| 1930 | 14 | #2,129 |
| 1925 | 19 | #1,840 |
| 1920 | 17 | #2,004 |
| 1915 | 24 | #1,390 |
| 1910 | 10 | #1,083 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | 6 | #1,240 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Josef
- Josef Mengele Physician · 1911–1979
- Josef Breuer Philosopher · 1842–1925
- Josef Bican Soccer player · 1913–2001
- Josef Masopust Soccer player · 1931–2015
- Josef Kramer Politician · 1906–1945
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Josef mean?
A male given name, variant of Joseph.
How popular is the name Josef in 2025?
Josef ranked #2,860 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 44 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Josef?
9,158 babies have been named Josef in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Josef most popular?
Josef peaked in 1999, when 220 newborns received the name.
Is Josef a boy or girl name?
Josef is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Josef rising or falling?
Josef is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Josef?
Well-known people named Josef include Josef Mengele (physician), Josef Breuer (philosopher), Josef Bican (soccer player).