Josie

Josie is a short form of Josephine, which is the feminine form of Joseph. It inherits the Hebrew name family’s meaning, commonly expressed as “God will add” or “God increases.” Josie can be used independently, so a child does not need to have Josephine on a birth certificate for the name to be complete.

Josie and the Pussycats gives it a long-running pop-culture association through comics, animation, and film. Its two-syllable pronunciation, JOH-zee, has a voiced z sound in the middle. Josey, Josi, and Josy offer alternative spellings. For a family honoring a Joseph or Josephine, Josie keeps that connection while changing the length and rhythm. Josephine remains an option for parents who would like both a longer formal name and Josie for everyday use.