Girl
Hebrew / French
4 syllables
Josephine
JO-suh-feen
/ˈdʒoʊ.zə.fiːn/
"God will add" — a grand French name of imperial elegance and romantic flair
Josephine is the French feminine form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew Yosef meaning God will add or He will enlarge. The name became fashionable in France and beyond through Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. After a long decline through the 20th century, Josephine has staged a dramatic revival and is now one of the most fashionable vintage names in the English-speaking world.
Quick Facts
Letters9
SyllablesJo · se · phine
GenderGirl
OriginHebrew / French
Root WordYosef
MeaningGod will add
PopularityPopular
Peak Year2020
Trend
↑ Rising
Name DayMarch 19
Nicknames
JoJosieJoeyFifiPosy
About the Name Josephine
Josephine means God will add or He will increase, from the Hebrew Yosef. It is the feminine form of Joseph and carries connotations of abundance and blessing.
Yes. Josephine fell from fashion in the mid-20th century but has made a spectacular comeback and is now among the most popular vintage girl names in use.
Josie is the most popular nickname today. Jo, Posy, Joey, and Fifi are all charming alternatives with different personalities.
Yes, Josephine is the French form of the name. It was cemented as a French name by Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Josephine Rose, Josephine Claire, and Josephine Elise are beautiful combinations. Josephine Aurora or Josephine Celeste add a grand, romantic quality.
Josephines are often seen as elegant, spirited, and quietly formidable — names that suggest a woman of both grace and substance.
Personality of Josephine
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Josephine
Creativity
80%
Elegance
92%
Independence
82%
Intelligence
82%
Strength
78%
Warmth
74%
Famous People Named Josephine
E
Empress Joséphine
First wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress of the French, known for her beauty and political influence
J
Josephine Baker
American-born French entertainer, civil rights activist, and French Resistance spy
J
Josephine Tey
Scottish author of golden-age mystery novels, particularly The Daughter of Time
Middle Names for Josephine
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Josephine
Josephine Rose
Josephine Marie
Josephine Claire
Josephine Grace
Josephine Elise
Josephine Louise
Josephine Aurora
Josephine Celeste
Josephine Florence
Josephine Pearl
Names Similar to Josephine
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Josephine
1760
Josephine begins appearing in France as a feminine form of Joseph
1796
Napoleon marries Rose de Beauharnais, who he calls Joséphine; the name becomes imperial
1920s
Josephine Baker dazzles Paris, adding jazz-age glamour to the name
2020
Josephine reaches its modern US peak, firmly in the top 150 girl names
Numerology & Symbolism of Josephine
2
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
7
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Pisces
3
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Lavender
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🌸
Lucky Flower
Violet
Josephine Around the World
How Josephine is written in different languages and scripts
جوزيفين
Arabic
ジョゼフィーン
Japanese
Жозефина
Russian
조세핀
Korean
约瑟芬
Chinese
Ζωζεφίν
Greek
जोसेफीन
Hindi
ז'וזפין
Hebrew
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