Josef
German · Boy · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Josef
Josef means "God will increase" or "God adds," derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), combining the elements "Yo" (God) and "sef" (he will add).
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Etymology
Josef means "God will increase" or "God adds," derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), combining the elements "Yo" (God) and "sef" (he will add). The name is primarily used in Germanic, Central European, and Catholic Christian cultures, with historical prominence through Saint Joseph (father of Jesus) and numerous European royalty and religious figures.
Josef currently ranks #2,860 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1999.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
German, Czech, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Faroese names that sit beautifully beside JosefSimilar names you might like
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Names that sound like Josef
Phonetic match, not just spelling"Jakub means "supplanter" or "one who follows" and derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (יעקב), related to the root word…"
"Josefa is the feminine form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), meaning "God will increase" or "God…"
"Jakob means "supplanter" or "one who follows" and derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (יעקב), likely from the root meaning…"
"Jacob derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (יעקב), meaning "supplanter" or "he who supplaces," from the root meaning to seize…"
"The name Joseph derives from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), meaning "God will increase" or "God adds," combining the elements…"
"Jeppe is a Scandinavian diminutive form of Jepsen or Jeppe, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Joseph through the Greek…"
"The name Job derives from the Hebrew name Iyov (אִיּוֹב), meaning "the persecuted one" or "one who weeps," from a…"
"Joep is a Dutch diminutive of Jozef (Joseph), derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "God will increase" or "God…"
"Josepha is the feminine form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), meaning "God will increase" or "Jehovah…"
"Jacoba is the feminine form of Jacob, derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows"…"
"Jozef means "God will increase" and derives from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), composed of the elements "Yo" (God) and…"
"Jakov means "supplanter" and derives from the Hebrew name Jacob (Ya'akov), from the root meaning "to seize by the heel."…"