Baby Name Popularity Profile

Joseph

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Joseph.

✦ God will add 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #29
All-Time Peak Rank #5 Achieved 1912
Total U.S. Births 2,669,490 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1950s 32,749 births in 1956
💡 The Joseph Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning God will add
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from Hebrew Yosef meaning 'he will add'.
Common Nicknames
Joe Joey
Alternative Spellings
Josef
Pronunciation: JO-sef
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Joseph

According to SSA data, Joseph achieved its highest historical rank of #5 in 1912. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1956 with 32,749 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 36.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Joseph across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -36.7% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 32,749 births in 1956
Years in Top 100 146 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Very Stable
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 26,292
1890s: 29,000
1900s: 35,173
1910s: 179,300
1920s: 243,809
1930s: 180,566
1940s: 230,285
1950s: 300,012
1960s: 283,048
1970s: 244,825
1980s: 299,411
1990s: 260,751
2000s: 194,962
2010s: 115,722
2020s: 46,334

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Jos-eph
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with J, a letter used by only 7.8% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Joseph.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Rhode Island
Top States Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Rhode Island #33 20,905 1922 31.2% Decline
New Jersey #5 138,689 1957 9.7% Decline
Pennsylvania #12 257,988 1918 2.6% Decline
Connecticut #10 49,951 1918 +13.8% Growth
Massachusetts #25 111,252 1918 19.4% Decline
New York #7 348,324 1957 18.8% Decline
Delaware #20 8,573 1955 13.3% Decline
District of Columbia #56 15,059 1954 48.1% Decline
Maryland #30 50,145 1958 29.8% Decline
Louisiana #9 59,030 1947 +1.6% Growth
Alaska #22 4,102 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #24 135,774 1957 13.9% Decline
New Hampshire #24 8,422 1989 +11.8% Growth
Ohio #29 122,769 1956 9.8% Decline
Maine #37 11,482 1924 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #74 4,470 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii #40 7,931 1980 30.8% Decline
Michigan #24 94,694 1956 14.5% Decline
New Mexico #23 12,813 1980 2.3% Decline
Wisconsin #42 47,187 1983 16.4% Decline
Wyoming #59 3,162 1980 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #31 40,309 1980 +11.8% Growth
West Virginia #46 21,149 1956 16.2% Decline
Virginia #30 51,304 1990 15.7% Decline
South Carolina #20 32,590 1952 4.6% Decline
Montana #56 6,829 1918 28.0% Decline
Minnesota #50 40,947 1984 6.8% Decline
Nevada #43 7,317 2006 20.9% Decline
Missouri #43 48,829 1982 2.3% Decline
Indiana #47 50,454 1981 21.2% Decline
Florida #31 70,923 1991 +2.7% Growth
Colorado #50 24,559 1985 +3.7% Growth
North Carolina #39 57,681 1991 9.6% Decline
Alabama #30 36,350 1981 +7.9% Growth
Georgia #24 53,990 1986 8.3% Decline
Arizona #55 23,140 1988 29.0% Decline
Nebraska #62 13,752 1982 2.6% Decline
California #46 181,731 1990 28.3% Decline
Mississippi #41 22,795 1980 34.7% Decline
Iowa #54 23,215 1980 Stable
North Dakota #64 5,943 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #123 15,603 1984 61.6% Decline
Washington #49 27,585 1983 4.5% Decline
South Dakota #58 5,676 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #45 35,695 1980 18.2% Decline
Kansas #58 17,154 1983 19.1% Decline
Idaho #94 6,421 1982 27.8% Decline
Utah #95 12,723 1980 28.4% Decline
Arkansas #67 15,251 1981 27.4% Decline
Texas #45 98,928 1985 12.7% Decline
Oklahoma #62 17,433 1983 30.0% Decline

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Thomas Michael David Steven Philip Dennis Nelson Darwin Gordon Gerard
👧 Sister Suggestions
Valerie Leslie Laurel Roslyn Brenda Nadine Yvonne Debora Connie Robbie

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