Josephine

Josephine meaning

Josephine is an international and Christian girl's name of Hebrew origin (via French).

Feminine of Joseph: Hebrew Yosef, 'let him add', 'he increases'

Also used to mean: God will increase, he will add

Josephine is the French feminine of Joseph. Strong's concordance gives the Hebrew Yosef as "let him add", from the verb yasaph, "to add" or "increase"; in Genesis, Rachel gives her son this name praying that God will add another son to her family. Name lists give "God will increase". Famous bearers include Empress Joséphine, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the entertainer and French Resistance agent Josephine Baker. Readers of Little Women will remember that Jo March's full name is Josephine. It shortens to Josie or Jo.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, H3130 · entry Yowceph (יוֹסֵף) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Strong's H3130, Yowceph (biblehub.com) · Wikipedia, Joséphine de Beauharnais · Wikipedia, Josephine Baker

Famous namesakes

• Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon
• Josephine Baker, entertainer and French Resistance agent

Popularity abroad

• #53 United States, girls 2025 (up 3 from 56 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #256 England and Wales, girls 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Josephine · Josefina · Josephina

Related names

Also meaning prosperity

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