Joshua is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #50 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Hebrew — God is salvation
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UK Rank 2024
#50
US Rank #57
About the Name Joshua
Joshua is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 27 places over five years. Its high point was #2 in 2002, and it now sits at #50. 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, Joshua comes from Hebrew, where it means "God is salvation". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Joshua is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #57, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Joshua
Unlikely. With around 1,027 UK babies named Joshua per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Joshua in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Joshua has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 27 places in the last five years. Its peak was #2 in 2002. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
The name Joshua has Hebrew origins and means "God is salvation". 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 Joshua include: Joshua Selman — Joshua Selman Nimmak is a Nigerian gospel preacher, revivalist and author from Plateau State, Nigeria.; Joshua Nascimento — Joshua Seixas Arantes do Nascimento is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a forward.; Prem Joshua — Prem Joshua (Hindi: प्रेम जोशुआ) is a German musician, active since 1969..
Joshua ranks #57 in the US (2024), making it comfortably inside the American top 100. It's well-liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
1,027
UK babies named Joshua (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.5
In a school of 600
↓ 27 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Joshua
Likely around 1 other Joshua 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 Joshua
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Joshua Selman Nimmak is a Nigerian gospel preacher, revivalist and author from Plateau State, Nigeria. He is the founder and senior pastor of Eternity Network International (ENI), also known as Koinonia Global, a Christian ministry headquartered in Nigeria.
Prem Joshua (Hindi: प्रेम जोशुआ) is a German musician, active since 1969. Born in the south of Germany in 1958, Joshua learned to play the flute at the age of five and played this instrument and the saxophone since the age of 12 in various local bands.
Joshua Kutryk is a Canadian astronaut, test pilot, fighter pilot and engineer. He was selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as one of the two members of the 2017 CSA Group alongside Jenni Sidey.
Sir Joshua Reynolds was an English painter who specialised in portraits. The art critic John Russell called him one of the major European painters of the 18th century, while Lucy Peltz says he was "the leading portrait artist of the 18th-century and arguably one of the greatest artists in the history of art." He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting, which depended on idealisation of the imperfect.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was an American college professor and politician from Maine who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general).
Joshua Hong, known mononymously as Joshua (Korean: 조슈아), is an American singer based in South Korea. Managed by Pledis Entertainment, he is a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen and its vocal team.
Joshua Kushner is an American businessman and venture capitalist. He is the founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm Thrive Capital, co-founder and vice-chairman of Oscar Health, and the youngest son of the real estate developer Charles Kushner.