How Many People Are Named Joseph?
Complete statistics for the name Joseph: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Joseph means 'God will increase' and has been a popular choice for centuries. It's estimated that 1 in 196 Americans today are named Joseph, making up a total of 1,687,237 people. The majority of those named Joseph are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 1 symbolizes leadership and independence.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 64All 2,670,104 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1956Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Joseph Through the Generations
Joseph has seen its peak popularity in 1956 when 32,831 babies were given this name. Over the decades, the name has shown a steady decline, but it remains a significant part of American naming history. With an average age of 64, Joseph is predominantly found among older generations, with 53% being over 60 years old. This trend highlights how the name has become synonymous with wisdom and experience, often associated with respected elders in communities.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Joseph
Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef. "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic countries. In Portuguese and Spanish, the name is "José". In Catalan it is "Josep". In Arabic, including in the Quran, the name is spelled يوسف, Yūsuf. In Kurdish (Kurdî), the name is Ûsiv or Yûsiv, Persian, the name is Yousef, and in Turkish it is Yusuf. In Pashto the name is spelled Esaf (ايسپ) and in Malayalam it is spelled Ousep (ഔസേപ്പ്). In Tamil, it i…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Joseph's Hebrew roots
📄 About the Name Joseph
How Many People Have the Name Joseph?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 108,935 people in the United States currently share the name Joseph. That works out to roughly 1 in every 3,043 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Joseph a Common or Rare Name?
Joseph is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Joseph Mean?
Joseph means "God will increase" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Joseph in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Joseph Most Popular?
The name Joseph reached peak popularity in 1956, with 32,831 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Joseph?
Approximately 108,935 people named Joseph live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 108,935. That works out to roughly 1 in 3,043 Americans.
Is Joseph a rare name?
Joseph is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 3,043 Americans has this name.
What does the name Joseph mean?
Joseph means "God will increase" and comes from Hebrew origins.
Is Joseph more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Joseph are male and 0% are female.
When was Joseph most popular?
Joseph peaked in 1956 with 32,831 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.