Joseph
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob.
Every Joseph since 1880 — 2,680,213 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Joseph
Joseph is a top-50 name for boys in the United States, ranked #29 in 2025 with 7,303 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,680,213 American babies have been named Joseph. Its peak came in 1956, when 32,832 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Joseph stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Joseph 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 | 12 | #8,591 | 7,303 | #29 |
| 2024 | 5 | #16,373 | 7,261 | #32 |
| 2023 | 12 | #8,707 | 7,279 | #29 |
| 2022 | 9 | #10,764 | 7,839 | #30 |
| 2021 | 8 | #11,594 | 8,166 | #28 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,659 | 8,486 | #26 |
| 2019 | 16 | #7,169 | 9,179 | #24 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7,558 | 9,682 | #23 |
| 2017 | 19 | #6,397 | 10,488 | #18 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8,611 | 10,969 | #20 |
| 2015 | 12 | #9,203 | 11,531 | #21 |
| 2014 | 6 | #15,505 | 12,155 | #20 |
| 2013 | 20 | #6,353 | 12,278 | #20 |
| 2012 | 16 | #7,618 | 12,594 | #19 |
| 2011 | 23 | #5,828 | 12,995 | #22 |
| 2010 | 16 | #7,696 | 13,851 | #20 |
| 2009 | 20 | #6,675 | 14,952 | #15 |
| 2008 | 30 | #4,948 | 16,599 | #13 |
| 2007 | 28 | #5,163 | 17,364 | #13 |
| 2006 | 29 | #4,882 | 18,471 | #11 |
| 2005 | 36 | #3,992 | 19,241 | #9 |
| 2004 | 103 | #1,843 | 20,147 | #9 |
| 2003 | 31 | #4,255 | 21,394 | #6 |
| 2002 | 35 | #3,762 | 21,920 | #7 |
| 2001 | 27 | #4,502 | 22,030 | #8 |
| 2000 | 24 | #4,875 | 22,844 | #8 |
| 1995 | 62 | #2,168 | 25,354 | #12 |
| 1990 | 84 | #1,746 | 30,137 | #10 |
| 1985 | 227 | #755 | 30,222 | #10 |
| 1980 | 217 | #763 | 30,185 | #10 |
| 1975 | 132 | #955 | 22,125 | #12 |
| 1970 | 138 | #930 | 26,714 | #16 |
| 1965 | 120 | #926 | 28,630 | #11 |
| 1960 | 120 | #978 | 29,749 | #12 |
| 1955 | 84 | #1,096 | 31,589 | #13 |
| 1950 | 64 | #1,157 | 27,022 | #13 |
| 1945 | 58 | #1,019 | 20,823 | #14 |
| 1940 | 64 | #897 | 18,208 | #12 |
| 1935 | 76 | #776 | 17,181 | #10 |
| 1930 | 141 | #576 | 20,981 | #9 |
| 1925 | 132 | #638 | 24,613 | #7 |
| 1920 | 112 | #688 | 25,587 | #7 |
| 1915 | 69 | #793 | 23,051 | #5 |
| 1910 | 29 | #802 | 5,228 | #6 |
| 1905 | 22 | #790 | 3,302 | #7 |
| 1900 | 14 | #1,031 | 3,714 | #7 |
| 1895 | 23 | #651 | 2,992 | #7 |
| 1890 | 11 | #853 | 2,670 | #7 |
| 1885 | 14 | #593 | 2,540 | #7 |
| 1880 | 10 | #562 | 2,632 | #7 |
Famous people named Joseph
- Joseph Stalin Politician · 1879–1953
- Joseph Haydn Composer · 1732–1809
- Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Politician · 1741–1790
- Joseph Goebbels Politician · 1897–1945
- Joseph Fourier Mathematician · 1768–1830
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joseph mean?
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob.
How popular is the name Joseph in 2025?
Joseph ranked #29 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7,303 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Joseph?
2,680,213 babies have been named Joseph in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Joseph most popular?
Joseph peaked in 1956, when 32,832 newborns received the name.
Is Joseph a boy or girl name?
Joseph is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Joseph rising or falling?
Joseph is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Joseph?
Well-known people named Joseph include Joseph Stalin (politician), Joseph Haydn (composer), Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor (politician).