Mostly girls
Cecilia
Feminine form of Cecil, Latin
“blind”
Mostly girls · French feminine variation of Joseph, Hebrew
Josephine
“Jehovah increases”
Say it JO-suh-feenPronunciation may vary by region.
See your shortlist ↗
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Meet Josephine.
Josephine is a French feminine form of Joseph and ultimately comes from Hebrew Yosef, traditionally interpreted as God will increase. The French spelling Joséphine uses an accent that is usually omitted in English.
Jo and Josie offer familiar everyday forms, while the full name has a more formal rhythm. Josephine can therefore preserve a connection to a Joseph in the family without repeating the same name.
A little perspective
How popular is Josephine?
Girls · 2025#534,126 recorded births
Recorded US births over time
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 53 | 4,126 |
| 2024 | Girls | 56 | 3,765 |
| 2023 | Boys | 13,131 | 5 |
| 2023 | Girls | 64 | 3,371 |
| 2022 | Girls | 70 | 3,266 |
| 2021 | Girls | 72 | 3,391 |
| 2020 | Girls | 87 | 3,057 |
| 2019 | Girls | 90 | 3,123 |
| 2018 | Girls | 91 | 3,050 |
| 2017 | Girls | 107 | 2,823 |
| 2016 | Girls | 114 | 2,797 |
| 2015 | Girls | 131 | 2,505 |
| 2014 | Girls | 147 | 2,286 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
A few ways to make it theirs.
Nicknames
JoJosie
Variations & related forms
JosefineJosefina
Keep the possibilities coming
If you love Josephine…
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Mostly girls
Clara
Latin
“bright, clear”
Mostly girls
Daphne
Greek
“laurel tree, bay tree”
Mostly girls
Eleanor
English, from Provençal Aliénor
“Uncertain; from Aliénor”
Mostly girls
Penelope
Greek
“Traditionally weaver; derivation uncertain”
Mostly girls
Phoebe
Greek
“radiant, shining one”