Joseph - Names
Meaning of the name Joseph
Gender:
Male
Meaning:
‘God will add’ (from the Hebrew name: Yosef)
History & etymology:
Joseph is a name ultimately derived from Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Yosef was the only son of Jacob and his second wife Rachel. However, Jacob had 10 children with his other wife while Rachel seemed infertile for a long time. That is why the long-awaited son was named Yosef, which means ‘God will add’. The Biblical name was adopted into Greek and subsequently into Latin as Ioseph.
In the Middle Ages, the name Joseph was already popular among the Jews and started to become fashionable in Spain and Italy. In England, Joseph came into common use only in the late 17th century.
The patron saint of the name is St. Joseph, the husband of Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus. He was a humble carpenter who devoted his life to God’s service. He was ready to leave his hometown and live in poor conditions in order to protect his wife and baby Jesus.
St. Joseph is the patron saint of unborn children, fathers, workers and immigrants. His feast day is celebrated on 19th March.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Josef
Diminutives: Jo, Joe, Joey, Jojo
Similar names in other languages & name days:
Austria
19th March: Josev
21st May: Josef
Bulgaria
26th December: Iosif
Croatia
19th March: Josip
Czech Republic
19th March: Josef
Estonia
19th March: Joosep
Finland
19th March: Joosef, Jooseppi
France
19th March: Joseph
Germany
19th March: Josef
Greece
9th April, 31st July, 30th December: Josef
Hungary
19th March: József
Italy
19th March: Giuseppe
Latvia
19th March: Jazeps
Lithuania
19th March: Jouzapas
Poland
4th, 14th, 15th, 28th February; 1st, 19th March; 17th April; 1st May; 23rd, 28th June, 4th July, 27th August; 18th September; 14th November: Józef
Slovak Republic
19th March: Jozef
Spain
19th March: José
Sweden
19th March: Josef
Ukraine
26th December: Joseph
USA
19th March: Jose, Josef, Joseph
Arabic: Youssef
Armenian: Hovsep
Dutch: Josephus, Joep
Russian: Iosif, Osip
Famous people named Joseph:
Joseph Barbera (1911-2006) - American animator
Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) - Polish-British writer
Joseph Devries (1994-) - Welsh singer
Joseph Fiennes (1970-) - English actor
Joseph Goebbels (1897 - 1945) - German politician
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (1981-) - American actor
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - Austrian composer
Joseph Hernandez (1996-) - American photographer
Joseph Hooton Taylor Jr. (1941-) - American scientist
Joseph Lister (1827 - 1912) - English pioneer of antiseptics
Joseph Mazzello (1983-) - American actor
Joseph Morgan (1981-) - English actor
Joseph Schooling (1995-) - Singaporean athlete
Joseph Sikora (1976-) - American actor
Joseph Simmons (1964-) - American rapper
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - American religious leader
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) - Soviet dictator
Joseph Young (1992-) - American basketball player
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015)
USA: 21st
England and Wales: 21st
Canada: 69th
Australia: 39th
New Zealand: 33rd
Northern Ireland: 30th
Ireland: 42nd
Scotland: 37th
France: 144th
Lucky colors: navy blue, black
Lucky stone: Garnet
Ruling planet: Saturn
Characteristics: active, resilient, athletic, dynamic, independent