Joseph sits comfortably in the UK charts at #56 in 2024 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
Origin & Meaning
Hebrew — God will add/increase
📊
UK Rank 2024
#56
US Rank #32
About the Name Joseph
Joseph is holding steady in the rankings at #56. It reached its peak of #7 in 2000 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
Etymologically, Joseph comes from Hebrew, where it means "God will add/increase". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Joseph is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #32, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Joseph
Unlikely. With around 946 UK babies named Joseph per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Joseph in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Joseph has held a stable position around #56 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #7 in 2000 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Joseph has Hebrew origins and means "God will add/increase". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Joseph include: Joseph Aoun — Joseph Khalil Aoun is a Lebanese politician and former army general who has served as the 14th president of Lebanon since 2025.; Joseph Boakai — Joseph Nyuma Boakai is a Liberian politician who has served as the 26th president of Liberia since 2024.; Saint Joseph — According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of....
Joseph ranks #32 in the US (2024), making it comfortably inside the American top 100. It's well-liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
946
UK babies named Joseph (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.5
In a school of 600
↓ 18 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Joseph
Likely around 1 other Joseph in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Joseph
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Joseph Khalil Aoun is a Lebanese politician and former army general who has served as the 14th president of Lebanon since 2025. He has previously served as the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and is the fifth president with a military background.
Joseph Nyuma Boakai is a Liberian politician who has served as the 26th president of Liberia since 2024. He previously served as the 29th vice president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and as the minister of agriculture from 1983 to 1985.
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and philologist who was the Gauleiter (district leader) of Berlin, chief propagandist for the Nazi Party, and then Reich Minister of Propaganda from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. He was one of Adolf Hitler's closest and most devoted followers and was known for his skills in public speaking and his extreme antisemitism which was evident in his publicly voiced views.
Joseph Pawnee-no-pashe was a chief of the Big Hills band of the Osage Indians. He won the first election of Principal Chief of the Osage Nation in 1882.
According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism and Lutheranism.
Joseph Hubertus Pilates was a German physical trainer, writer, and inventor. He is credited with inventing and promoting the Pilates method of physical fitness.
Joseph Carey Merrick was an English man known for his severe physical deformities. He was first exhibited at a freak show under the stage name "The Elephant Man", and then went to live at the London Hospital, in Whitechapel, after meeting the surgeon Sir Frederick Treves.