Josh

An uncommon Hebrew pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's nameHebrewDeclining Also a pet name
#1736 70in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given name Joshua.

Josh is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a short form of Joshua, from the Hebrew Yehoshua meaning 'God is salvation' or 'God saves.' As a standalone name, Josh has a relaxed, approachable quality — the full weight of its biblical heritage worn lightly.

Over 17,190 U.S. births are recorded as Josh alone, in addition to its millions of uses as a nickname. It's a name that fits a child at every age — easy to say, easy to love, impossible to forget.

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Popularity Over Time

Josh was #663 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1736, but its charm endures.

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Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Josh
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s472
2010s1,417
2000s2,656
1990s1,827
1980s2,819
1970s4,012
1960s1,212
1950s597
1940s361
1930s348
1920s439
1910s395
1900s195
1890s209
1880s234

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Josh
YearBirthsRank
202495#1736
202389#1806
202294#1763
2021100#1657
202094#1682
2019103#1607
2018113#1513
2017129#1374
2016108#1542
2015123#1400
2014166#1144
2013151#1190
2012167#1109
2011179#1053
2010178#1083
2009205#976
2008271#810
2007316#726
2006302#715
2005266#751

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Josh has two lives

Josh, the baby name
#1736boys
17,193 babies
Currently viewing
Josh, the pet name
#1959pet name
51 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology