Joshawa
A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 508 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
When Joshawa hit its peak of 28 births in 1985, American naming was shifting away from mid-century classics toward more individualistic, expressive choices.
Today, Joshawa reads as a name tied to a specific era — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
Joshawa is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Joshawa is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a phonetic spelling variant of Joshua meaning 'God is salvation,' from Hebrew Yehoshua. Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan after Moses, making him one of the most celebrated figures in the Old Testament.
Joshawa is a rare respelling that captures the way Joshua is often pronounced colloquially, with the final syllable sounding like -awa. It appears in American records primarily from the late 20th century, used by parents who wanted the sound of Joshua with a more distinctive written form.
EtymologyShow more
Joshawa is built from 7 letters and three syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Hebrew naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Joshawa creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Multi-syllable names often carry remnants of compound constructions — two or more meaningful elements fused together — even when the original components are no longer transparent to modern speakers.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Joshawa has 36+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1974.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 18 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 83 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 132 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 226 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 49 | — |
The Story of Joshawa
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1985, Joshawa is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Joshawa are most likely born between 1975 and 1995.
How rare is Joshawa?
With 508 total births on record, Joshawa remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1974, peaked in the 1980s with 226 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Joshawa by the numbers
- Would fill 11 school buses
- Meeting one Joshawa per day would take 1.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(36 years, 1974–2011)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 | #10159 |
| 2010 | 11 | #7312 |
| 2009 | 6 | #11673 |
| 2007 | 7 | #10305 |
| 2006 | 7 | #10100 |
| 2005 | 8 | #8687 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7857 |
| 2003 | 8 | #8215 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5258 |
| 2001 | 11 | #6220 |
| 2000 | 13 | #5435 |
| 1999 | 15 | #4648 |
| 1998 | 13 | #5016 |
| 1997 | 9 | #6352 |
| 1996 | 7 | #7529 |
| 1995 | 14 | #4397 |
| 1994 | 10 | #5658 |
| 1993 | 13 | #4578 |
| 1992 | 10 | #5432 |
| 1991 | 19 | #3268 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joshawa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Joshawa most popular?
How popular is the name Joshawa?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1974–2011