Joshua Name Meaning

From the Hebrew Yehoshu’a, Joshua is an Old Testament name that first rose to prominence in the 1970s in the U.S. His nickname Josh is a familiar favorite, dotting television screens for much of the 90s and beyond.

While his past peak in popularity may leave some feeling iffy, it’s important to note that a name being popular isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Joshua likely won’t have to spell his name out for others and shouldn’t have a hard time finding a personalized item if available.

His prime time in the spotlight may have passed, but the sound of Joshua works well with many of today’s trends from his J start to his vowel ending. He also has a gentle SH sound in the middle, similar to Ashton and Dashiell.

With a deeply devout meaning like “God is salvation” and strong biblical ties, it’s no surprise that religious parents have been head of heels in love with Joshua. First the assistant to Moses, Joshua went on to lead the tribes after his death.

Joshua will always have a playful side, thanks in part to the “Josh” being another name for a joke. Despite this, he ages well, growing alongside a boisterous boy as he matures into a man.

Infographic of Joshua name meaning, which is A name of Hebrew origins, Joshua means God is salvation.
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Joshua Name Popularity

How popular is the name Joshua? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 592 5 0.0014%
1911 472 12 0.0032%
1912 617 17 0.0034%
1913 445 54 0.0095%
1914 516 55 0.0079%
1915 498 87 0.0096%
1916 612 54 0.0056%
1917 514 90 0.009%
1918 541 89 0.0083%
1919 515 97 0.0093%
1920 542 92 0.0083%
1921 558 91 0.0079%
1922 613 75 0.0067%
1923 542 97 0.0087%
1924 606 75 0.0065%
1925 621 70 0.0062%
1926 647 60 0.0055%
1927 578 81 0.0073%
1928 585 73 0.0068%
1929 769 33 0.0032%
1930 652 54 0.0052%
1931 618 57 0.0058%
1932 563 74 0.0075%
1933 616 53 0.0057%
1934 569 73 0.0076%
1935 626 53 0.0055%
1936 588 62 0.0064%
1937 604 59 0.006%
1938 727 34 0.0033%
1939 591 61 0.006%
1940 606 61 0.0057%
1941 639 53 0.0047%
1942 573 78 0.0062%
1943 613 69 0.0053%
1944 580 72 0.0058%
1945 598 62 0.0051%
1946 603 71 0.0048%
1947 548 110 0.0066%
1948 583 90 0.0056%
1949 487 146 0.0091%
1950 539 115 0.0071%
1951 525 125 0.0074%
1952 511 141 0.0081%
1953 535 131 0.0074%
1954 528 143 0.0078%
1955 475 196 0.0107%
1956 481 202 0.0107%
1957 479 221 0.0115%
1958 479 226 0.012%
1959 451 271 0.0143%
1960 458 260 0.0137%
1961 420 313 0.0166%
1962 444 273 0.0149%
1963 420 321 0.0179%
1964 413 336 0.0191%
1965 352 430 0.0263%
1966 338 453 0.029%
1967 313 526 0.0347%
1968 272 691 0.046%
1969 196 1,294 0.084%
1970 150 2,175 0.1367%
1971 79 3,651 0.243%
1972 59 5,040 0.37%
1973 42 8,063 0.6219%
1974 29 11,599 0.8924%
1975 26 14,574 1.1341%
1976 18 16,867 1.3087%
1977 14 22,076 1.6378%
1978 12 25,217 1.8756%
1979 9 31,134 2.208%
1980 7 36,060 2.4663%
1981 6 39,053 2.6567%
1982 7 38,027 2.5447%
1983 5 36,705 2.4873%
1984 4 40,257 2.7062%
1985 4 42,195 2.78%
1986 4 37,538 2.4868%
1987 4 39,996 2.6209%
1988 4 42,649 2.7368%
1989 4 44,090 2.7322%
1990 4 43,216 2.6074%
1991 4 41,217 2.5287%
1992 4 36,216 2.2689%
1993 4 33,578 2.1538%
1994 4 31,372 2.0442%
1995 5 30,717 2.0381%
1996 5 29,169 1.9481%
1997 5 28,283 1.9123%
1998 4 28,088 1.8767%
1999 4 27,258 1.8202%
2000 4 27,538 1.8027%
2001 4 26,013 1.7264%
2002 3 25,986 1.7341%
2003 3 25,091 1.6493%
2004 3 24,199 1.5877%
2005 3 23,248 1.5205%
2006 3 22,317 1.4253%
2007 4 20,649 1.3087%
2008 4 19,200 1.2423%
2009 6 17,644 1.1805%
2010 11 15,438 1.0713%
2011 14 13,763 0.966%
2012 17 12,652 0.8879%
2013 21 11,822 0.8303%
2014 25 10,884 0.747%
2015 33 9,779 0.6721%
2016 35 9,169 0.6359%
2017 39 8,239 0.5903%
2018 41 7,354 0.5353%
2019 48 6,574 0.4856%
2020 53 5,860 0.4604%
2021 58 5,457 0.4464%
2022 60 5,137 0.3894%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Joshua

If you like Joshua, you’ll love these other names like Joshua.

What names are diminutives of Joshua?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Joshua sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Joshua, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Jos

Short form of Joseph

Hebrew

Josh

Jehovah is salvation

Hebrew

Joss

A member of the Germanic tribe, the Gauts

German

What names are variants of Joshua?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Joshua.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Joshuah

Jehovah is salvation

Hebrew

Josua

Jehovah is salvation

Hebrew

Josue

God is salvation

Spanish

Joushua

Jehovah is salvation

Hebrew

Jozua

Jehovah is salvation

Hebrew

Yehoshua

Jehovah is salvation

Hebrew

What names sound like Joshua?

If you like how Joshua sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Joshua.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Jasha

Slavic

Jocelyn
Josia

Jehovah helps

Hebrew

Nashua

What names are similar to Joshua?

Find a name that’s like Joshua, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Aaron

High mountain

Hebrew

Andrew

Manly and powerful

Greek

David

Beloved

Hebrew

Elijah

My God is Yahweh

Hebrew

Isaiah

God is salvation

Hebrew

Jacob

Supplanter

Hebrew

Jeremiah

God will exalt

Hebrew

Jordan

To descend

Hebrew

Michael

Who is Like God?

Hebrew

Thomas

Twin

Greek

Lists With Joshua

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Joshua.

Siblings of Joshua

Mamas with kids named Joshua also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Eden

Paradise

Hebrew

Judah

Praise

Hebrew

Jazlyn

Created name

American

Izabella

Devoted to God

Italian

Grayson

Son of the steward

English

Elijah

My God is Yahweh

Hebrew

Rebekah

To bind

Hebrew

Dominic

Of the Lord

Latin

Selena

Moon

Spanish

Alexis

Defender

Greek

Serenity

Calmness

English

Miriam

Of the sea

Hebrew

Ray

A diminutive form of Raymond.

English

Lila

Night

Arabic

Caleb

Whole heart

Hebrew

24 Comments

  1. Leader of the Israelites who walked with God.

    Reply

  2. Named after his daddy!

    Reply

  3. We originally wanted a biblical name that that had a special meaning. We also wanted a name that would go well with our chosen middle name (named after his father, Thomas) and that would make a good nickname. We had Joshua in our top name list for a few months but weren’t 100% sure. We eventually narrowed it down to just two names, Joshua included. I went into premature labor and had our son early and decided shortly after he was born to name him Joshua (Yahweh is salvation). I love the story of Joshua in the Bible and how God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. It was fitting since Joshua (aka Josh, aka JT) was in the NICU for a month and we prayed over him and declared God’s Word that he was strong and courageous…and he was! Joshua is healthy and doing well. God certainly blessed us and chose the best name for our son. ?

    Reply

  4. my first born was named after my husband uncle who passed away unfortunately so soon. Joshua was a very liked name for a while before even thinking about having kids.

    Reply

  5. I love my name, only more slay name is RACHEL

    Reply

    • Erm what the sigma

      Reply

  6. In a way, we didn’t actually pick Joshua for our child’s name. The name popped into my head while we were praying one night, and then my husband opened a book of 10,000 baby names at random and his thumb landed on Joshua immediately.
    I’ve also always loved Joshua and the story of Jericho’s defeat. And I’ve loved the story around my own name, so I wanted our child to have the opportunity to love its name in a similar way: to have something to actively try to live up to and aim for.
    That being said though, here are the things that we took into consideration when looking at names (mostly for the girl name option we found, but the ideas still apply). We wanted to pick a Biblical name that was common enough to be easily recognized and help my Mom feel comfortable with it, as she and my Dad chose Biblical names for me and my siblings. But at the same time, we wanted to avoid any actual family names on either side and names that were too closely associated with friends or acquaintances. We wanted a blank slate for our child, as both my husband and I are starting something new in our families by choosing the lives we have. We wanted to signify that with a completely new name, apart from our histories.

    Reply

  7. Biblical name

    Reply

  8. All my boys have biblical names with strong biblical meanings.when you name someone or something you give it meaning and purpose. I wanted my sons to have that.

    Reply

  9. When I started to read the Bible more and got close to God, I came across the book of Joshua; I was inspired and drawn to the personality and character of Joshua each time I read chapter by chapter, and this made me fall in love with the name, and I told myself that if I ever get married one day and have a son, he will be named JOSHUA meaning Saviour and God is indeed faithful he gave me my first fruit JOSHUA

    Reply

  10. Next Generation
    God my salvation

    Reply

  11. Joshua was the first name my husband and I came up with and it stuck. We like the name itself and its meaning. It’s Hebrew for “God is my salvation” and the Joshua of the Bible was known for strength, courage, and leadership. The only thing I don’t like about the name Joshua is that it is very common. But the strength of the meaning and the fact that both my husband and I liked it overrode that one negative point.

    Reply

  12. Joshua was the one that got the people of Israel to the promised land! I know that Joshua is my second chance at a closer more trusted walk with the Lord and I also am remaining celibate now, more physically healthy as well, meditating, doing more self care, an increasing my work goals.

    So Joshua helped me put a date on my new promised life, he is my promised land.

    Reply

  13. Joshua was such a good and strong figure in the Bible! Followed God, had faith larger than life and took on the mantel of Moses. May His faith and goodness be upon our new son!

    Reply

  14. Named my first son Joshua Michael he’s a strong mature Young man who’s been through a great ordeal since age 14 God blessed him and has kept him safe.

    Reply

  15. His dad picked his first name I picked his middle

    Reply

  16. Choose Joshua because one we didn’t want to name him after his dad. An we loved the name Joshua. Plus it’s in the Bible..

    Reply

  17. i just liked it ever since i heard it ?

    Reply

  18. Strong Biblical name.

    Reply

  19. I choose the name Joshua because I wanted my baby to have a name from the Bible. and because my brother had just past, so I figured that would be a perfect name from the Bible.plus my other son is named Kaleb and I love the story about Kaleb and Joshua in the Bible.

    Reply

  20. Love the biblical name

    Reply

  21. Joshua is not my biological son he is a miracle stepson who is named after his father

    Reply

  22. We love Joshua in the Bible…his courage and love for the Lords presence, and that the name means God saves. We also liked that it starts with J.

    Reply

  23. We chose Joshua because of it being a biblical name and it’s not one we hear often anymore.
    We call him Josh, Joshie and Joshua.

    Reply

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