Boy · Hebrew, via Arabic · Muslim · International
Yusuf
یوسفSay it YOO-suf
- Meaning today
- God increases
- Original meaning
- "the prophet Joseph; the Hebrew name is read 'let him add'" The Quran, 12:4
- Say it
- YOO-suf
- Written
- یوسف
- Other spellings
- Yousuf, Yousef
Yusuf
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Yusuf meaning
Yusuf (یوسف) is a Muslim and international boy's name of Hebrew origin (via Arabic).
The prophet Joseph; the Hebrew name is read 'let him add'
Also used to mean: God increases
Yusuf (یوسف) is Yūsuf, the Quranic form of Joseph. His story fills Surah 12, which bears his name and which the Quran calls the best of stories (12:3): sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers, falsely accused, raised to power for interpreting the king's dreams, and at last reunited with his family. The Arabic dictionaries give no Arabic meaning for the name. For the Hebrew Yosef, Strong's Concordance gives "let him add", and Genesis 30:24 explains the name with Rachel's prayer that the Lord would add another son. Name lists today give Yusuf as "God increases", which follows that Hebrew sense. In Indian history Yusuf ʿĀdil Shāh founded the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur in 1489.
Source: The Quran, 12:4 · entry Yūsuf (يُوسُفُ) · See the entry
In the Quran: 12:4 (Yūsuf (يُوسُفُ)) · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Quran 12:3–4 · Britannica, Yūsuf (Surah 12) · Strong's Hebrew 3130, Yoseph · Genesis 30:24 · Britannica, Adil Shahi dynasty
Famous namesakes
- Yūsuf (Joseph), the prophet whose story is told in Surah 12
- Yusuf ʿĀdil Shāh, founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur
Popularity abroad
- #450 United States, boys 2025 (up 25 from 475 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #64 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Yusuf · Yousuf · Yousef