Joseph

Joseph is the English and French form of the biblical name Josef. The name has a Hebrew origin and means 'God may add' in the sense of 'God may (still) add a son', derived from the ancient Hebrew jo for 'God' and jasaf for 'add', 'increase'.

What does the name Joseph mean?

Joseph is the English and French form of the biblical name Josef. The name has a Hebrew origin and means 'God may add' in the sense of 'God may (still) add a son', derived from the ancient Hebrew jo for 'God' and jasaf for 'add', 'increase'. There are two interpretations: '[God] may add' -> Gen 30:24: from jsf: philologically correct: desire for offspring: God may add another son; '[God] takes away' -> Gen 30:23: from 'sf: folk etymology: God has taken away the shame from the previously childless mother. Joseph is the name of several people in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the second son of Jacob, the patriarch of Israel, was named Joseph. Additionally, the foster father of Jesus was named Joseph. He was a carpenter from Nazareth, who is also venerated as the patron of workers today. His feast day is May 1, which is celebrated in Germany as 'Labor Day'. The spelling Joseph also appears in the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria, but the variant Josef is significantly more common. Joseph/Josef was a popular Catholic boy's name in Germany until the mid-20th century. After that, the name fell out of fashion but is now occasionally given again, especially in Bavaria.

Where does the name Joseph come from?

Etymology The spelling Joseph likely developed from the Latin name Josephus. This has its origin in the Hebrew name Josef, which is composed of the ancient Hebrew 'jo' for 'God' and 'jasaf' for 'add, increase'. Ancient Hebrew

How do you pronounce Joseph?

Sound & pronunciation of Joseph: The name Joseph is pronounced with two to three syllables and is softly articulated. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Jo-seph' [ˈjoːzɛf] or more internationally as [ʒoˈzɛf], with the first syllable carrying the tonal fullness. The gentle 'ph' at the end provides a clear yet soft conclusion. Joseph has a classic and cosmopolitan feel - calm, stylish, and present.

When is the name day of Joseph?

The most important name days for Joseph are celebrated on March 19 (St. Joseph's Day, Solemnity of St. Joseph), May 1 (Joseph the Carpenter, Patron of Workers), July 31 (Joseph of Arimathea), and September 18 (Joseph of Cupertino).

Popularity

The male first name Joseph was predominantly ranked between the top 60 and top 110 in Germany from 1920 to 1955. It was regularly represented but not a top name. In the late 1950s and 1960s, the name mostly ranked between top 125 and top 220. Thus, it remained in solid mid-range but lost its earlier strength. From the 1970s onward, the rankings deteriorated significantly. The name often ranked between top 250 and top 530 and became increasingly rare.

Nicknames & pet names

Jeff / Jo / Joe / Joejoe / Joey / Joh / Jojo / Joko / Joschi / Joschy / Josi / Jup / Juppi / Pepe / Peppi / Sepp / Seppi / Totti

Similar first names

Famous people

• Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo (American actor)
• Edward Joseph Lowe (English botanist)
• Edward Joseph Walker (English poet)
• Emile Auguste Joseph de Wildeman (Belgian botanist)
• Francisque Joseph Duret (French stonemason)
• Franz Joseph von Bretfeld-Chlumczansky (historian from the Czech Republic)
• Jean-Joseph Monnard (French ice hockey player)
• Joseph "Joe" Robinette Biden Jr. (US politician (Democrat))
• Joseph Adam Jonas (singer (Jonas Brothers))
• Joseph Alan Garner (British football player)
• Joseph Beuys (1921–1986, German artist)
• Joseph Calvet (French violinist)
• Joseph Cardijn (1882–1967, Belgian clergyman)
• Joseph Castanon (American actor)
• Joseph Cotten (1905–1994, American actor)
• Joseph Ebers (German architect)
• Joseph Fiennes (actor)
• Joseph Gilgun (British actor (Misfits))
• Joseph Goebbels (Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, inciter and incendiary speaker)
• Joseph Graham Sugg (British YouTuber)