Origin, Meaning, And History of Joshua
The name Joshua is derived from the Hebrew word “Yehoshua,” meaning “God is salvation.” It is formed by two words- “yeho,” meaning “God,” and “shua,” meaning “save or deliver.” The alphabet ‘Y’ was changed to ‘J’ in English from ‘I’ in Latin and Greek.
Joshua is a warm and traditional Christian male name that has been prevalent among the Jews since the 17th century. It is a Biblical name that has varied linguistic variations like Giosue in Italian, Iokua in Hawaiian, and Josva in Danish, among others. In English, Josh is usually the shorter version of Joshua.
This Hebrew has numerous references in Bible. Joshua was an early Hebrew leader of the Exodus period who God appointed to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death. In Jewish tradition, it is believed that Moses changed Joshua’s name with an implied meaning of “God is your savior.”
In the Old Testament, Joshua went up to Mount Sinai with Moses initially as a companion, where he received the Ten Commandments from God and succeeded Moses after his death as the leader of the Israelites.
The name gained popularity even before the 17th century and expanded its roots in American society in the 1950s. Joshua has also found its place in popular culture and was chosen for several fictional characters. Joshua Lyman is one such character played by Bradley Whitfield from the American television series “The West Wing.” Joshua “Josh” Nichols is one of the main characters in the television show “Drake and Josh,” who is a fun and caring stepbrother to Drake. Josh Baskin is a pre-adolescent fictional character in the 1988 American fantasy comedy-drama film “Big” directed by Penny Marshall, who wishes to grow big in life with the help of a fortune-telling machine.These characters have contributed to the popularity of the name and subsequently resulted in improved ranking in the top baby boy names category.
Joshua
Boy
Christianity
Hebrew
2
Two
1 word, 6 letters, 3 vowels, 3 consonants
Medium length and easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Joshua?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Joshua in English.
Famous People With The Name Joshua
- Anthony JoshuaEnglish professional boxer, two-time former unified world heavyweight champion
- Joshua CohenAmerican novelist and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2022 for his novel The Netanyahus
- Josh BrolinAmerican actor known for his role as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War
- Joshua BassettAmerican actor and singer known for his role as Ricky Bowen in High School Musical
- Joshua David HawleyAmerican politician and Senator from Missouri
Joshua On The Popularity Chart
Joshua has been among the top 100 most popular baby boy names in the US since 1973. Find the graphs below for detailed information.
Popularity Over Time
The popularity of the name Joshua gradually rose from the 1970s and remained a popular name for about 30 years. However, it has declined in the past decade, with only 98 baby boys being named Joshua in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Joshua was a top baby boy name in the 1980s, but its ranking began to drop in the 1990s and 2000s. Currently, the name is not among the top 10000 names in the US.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Joshua
Do you like the sound of Joshua but looking for other options with different meanings? Take a look at these similar-sounding names.
Popular Sibling Names For Joshua
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Joshua, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Joshua
Find matching brother names for Joshua and create a wonderful team of siblings.
JachimJachin Jascha Jeshua Jochem Josh Josha Joshka Joshuah Joshue Girl Sibling Names For Joshua
Looking for some suitable sister names for Joshua? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
JaishnaJaishree Jashar Jashmer Jashwi Jayachandra Jayashree Jayashri Jisha Jishna 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 Joshua
Joshua’s religious significance may appeal to parents. Here are some more names with the same meaning as Joshua.
Infographic: Know The Name Joshua‘s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name Joshua In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
joshua
In Sign Language
joshua
In Braille Alphabet
joshua
In Morse Code
joshua
Name Numerology For Joshua
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Joshua?
The name Joshua means ‘God is salvation.’
2. What is the origin of the name Joshua?
Joshua has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Joshua?
Joshua is pronounced as jo-shu-ah.
4. What is special about the name Joshua?
The name Joshua holds special significance in the Christian faith. In the Old Testament, Joshua was a companion of Moses and later turned leader of the Israelites who led them in the conquest of Canaan.
5. What is the symbolic meaning of Joshua?
The symbolic meaning of the name Joshua is ‘Jehovah saves.’ According to Numbers 13:16, Joshua was originally named Hoshea, which means ‘saves.’ Later, Moses gave him the divine name Jehovah (1).
6. What is the Hebrew word for Joshua?
Joshua is derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshu’a, made up of two elements ‘yeho,’ which is a reference to God and ‘yasha,’ meaning ‘to save.’
7. What does the Word Joshua mean in Greek?
Yehoshua is the Greek transliteration of the name from Latin. In Modern Greek, the name Joshua is also called ‘Jesus son of Naue,’ to distinguish him from Jesus.
8. What middle name goes with Joshua?
Some classic and timeless names that can be combined with Joshua are David, Benjamin, James, and Micheal. However, the choice of a middle name depends on the personal preference and you may go for the names of ancestors or someone close to your heart.
9. Is there a patron saint of the name Joshua?
Joshua served as a spy under Moses’ command and because of this, he is also known as the patron saint of spies and intelligence officials.
References:
- Symbolic Meaning of the Name Joshua;
https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/symbolic-meaning-name-joshua
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