Josey

Josey is a familiar form of Joseph or Josephine, names in a Hebrew family traditionally meaning God will add. It can therefore be used for either boys or girls without requiring separate invented origins. The spelling with ey gives it a different appearance from Josie while keeping the same broad name connection.

The masculine character Josey Wales in The Outlaw Josey Wales provides one recognizable fictional example of this exact spelling. For many families, though, the more important association may be a Joseph or Josephine in their own history. Josey can preserve the familiar spoken name rather than the full formal version. Its meaning follows that family connection, while its use as an independent name has a story of its own.