Josh

Meaning: Yahweh is salvation
Origin: Variant of Joshua (from Hebrew)

Boy's name · #1703 in the US (2025) · Retro

Popularity over time

Josh reached its best rank, #300, in 1880 and ranked #1703 in 2025. About 17,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Josh is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 6 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Josh ranks in other countries and regions.

#191 in Ireland (2025) · #214 in Scotland (2025) · #337 in Netherlands (2025) · #447 in N. Ireland (2025) · #761 in England & Wales (2025) · #925 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,197 in Switzerland (2025) · #2,596 in France (2025) · #733 in Canada (2024).

Famous Joshes

Josh Duhamel — American actor and former model
Josh Hutcherson — American actor
Josh Brolin — American actor (born 1968)
Josh Hartnett — American actor and producer
Josh Radnor — American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

In stories & tradition

Josh Lyman — The West Wing (TV series)
Josh Barrett — Home and Away (TV series)
Josh Willis — Neighbours (TV series)

What Joshes become

Among 2,527 notable people named Josh:

Sports figures appear 2.98× more often than among typical names — e.g. Josh McEachran, English association football player.

Similar names: Jeshua · Dan · Joe · Marion · Johnnie · Joziah

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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