Origin, Meaning, And History Of Josephine
Josephine is the feminine version of Joseph and has its origins in the Hebrew name Yosef, which means “God shall grow” or “Jehovah increases.” In French, the female version of Joseph was Josèphe, but it slowly lost popularity, and Joséphine became more common.
Josephine is believed to have thus come from the French Joséphine. According to the Bible, Joseph was Jacob’s eleventh and favorite son. There is also mention of a Joseph of Arimathea, who is said to have taken the responsibility to bury Jesus after his crucifixion. This Biblical connection perhaps resulted in Josephine’s popularity soaring among the royalty of various countries. Many queens and princesses in European countries carried the name Josephine. Joséphine of Leuchtenberg was the Queen of Sweden and Norway in the mid-1800s, while the wife of Grand Duke Jean, Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, was the Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg. The name also became widely known because of Josephine Bonaparte, the empress of France and wife of Napolean Bonaparte.
Josephine has many variations in spelling across different languages and countries. For instance, it is Jozefien in Dutch, Jozefina in Polish, Josefina or Josephina in Spanish, and Seosaimhín in Irish. The name also has various adorable nicknames, which make the name a favorite among parents through generations. Popular short forms or nicknames for Josephine include Jo, Fifi, Josie, and Joey.
The Archie comic character Josie of Josie and the Pussycats is a famous Josephine in popular culture, and so is Josephine Potter or Joey from the TV drama Dawson’s Creek, which was played by Katie Holmes. When it comes to literature, Jo from the English classic Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is an unforgettable Josephine, while Aunt Josephine of Anne of Green Gables is a lovable character we all wish we had in our lives.
Josephine
Girl
Christianity
English, French
2
Four
1 word, 9 letters, 4 vowels, 5 consonants
Long but moderately easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Josephine?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Josephine in English.
Famous People With The Name Josephine
- Josephine Bakhita Ex-slave from Sudan, Catholic nun, saint
- Josephine Thorndike BerryAmerican educator, home economist
- Josephine Clara Goldmark American reformer
- Josephine Humphreys American novelist
- Josephine Hutchinson American actress
- Josephine Ruffin Early civil rights activist and suffragist
- Josephine McGill American composer and music historian
- Josephine Langford Australian actress
- Josephine Gates Kelly Native American activist and politician
- Josefine Engström Swedish ski-orienteering competitor and World Champion
Josephine On The Popularity Chart
The popularity of Josephine has been growing steadily since the late 90s. The graphic representation below will give you more information.
Popularity Over Time
Slow and steady has been the rise of Josephine on the popularity chart. From 596 babies per million being named Josephine in 1993, the number rose to 3364 babies per million in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Ranked 430 in 1980, Josephine’s popularity further fell to 498 in 1987. But since then, the name’s popularity has risen steadily, entering the top 100 in 2018. Josephine was ranked 72 in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Josephine
Josephine sounds great, but you may love to find a name with a different meaning. Check out the suggestions below and take your pick.
Popular Sibling Names For Josephine
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Josephine, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Josephine
Find matching brother names for Josephine and create a wonderful team of siblings.
JasavantaJasavira Jasevaraj Jasjeev Jasjeevan Jasveer Jasvinder Jasvir Joeseph Joesph Girl Sibling Names For Josephine
Looking for some suitable sister names for Josephine? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
JosafinaJosefa Joseffa Josefiina Josefin Josefina Josefine Josepha Josephe Josephene Other Popular Names Beginning With J
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter J to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Josephine
For some reason, you may want to use an alternative of Josephine with the same meaning. Fret not, as we have a list of such names below.
Infographic: Know The Name Josephine‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name Josephine In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
josephine
In Sign Language
josephine
In Braille Alphabet
josephine
In Morse Code
josephine
Name Numerology For Josephine
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Josephine?
The name Josephine means may god give.
2. What is the origin of the name Josephine?
Josephine has an English and French origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Josephine?
Josephine is pronounced as jow-suh-feen.
4. What are some notable traits or characteristics associated with people named Josephine?
According to Josephine’s numerology chart, people with this name have great insight and clarity of thought. They are sensitive and intuitive. Moreover, they are reliable, consistent, and trustworthy.
5. Are there any specific countries or regions where the name Josephine is particularly popular?
Josephine is quite popular in the US. In the early 20th century, the name was rather prevalent. In 1917, 8326 baby girls were named Josephine, and it ranked at the 21st position. Later, after a brief dip in popularity, the name gained traction again. In 2022, it stood at the 70th position, with 3236 babies sharing the name (1).
6. Is there a specific saint or patron associated with the name Josephine?
Josephine Margaret Bakhita was a Sudanese-Italian sister and formerly enslaved person. She was declared a saint in 2000 and became the first Black woman to receive this honor in the modern era.
References:
- The popularity of the name Josephine.
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
