Hosea

Hosea is a Hebrew biblical name meaning salvation. It is especially associated with the prophet whose name appears on one of the books of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. The related form Hoshea makes the Hebrew name family visible, while Hosea reflects the form familiar in many English Bibles.

The prophet's book explores faithfulness, loss, and restoration through powerful images of relationships. A later bearer, American civil rights leader Hosea Williams, gives the name an additional connection with public service and social change. These are distinct parts of its history: an ancient religious name with a clear Hebrew meaning, and later individuals who carried it into new settings.