Joseph
Say it: JOE-sef
BoyMeans god shall add6 letters2 syllables
#64
in Ireland (2025)
#66 with spellings combined
86
babies in 2025
#11
best rank (1964)
19,547
babies since 1964
Down 24
10-year rank change
Joseph through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86 | #66 |
| 2024 | 83 | #73 |
| 2023 | 94 | #69 |
| 2022 | 106 | #64 |
| 2021 | 139 | #51 |
| 2020 | 107 | #60 |
| 2019 | 132 | #53 |
| 2018 | 150 | #49 |
| 2017 | 162 | #47 |
| 2016 | 153 | #51 |
| 2015 | 174 | #42 |
| 2014 | 197 | #41 |
| 2013 | 207 | #38 |
| 2012 | 196 | #44 |
| 2011 | 214 | #41 |
| 2010 | 227 | #38 |
| 2009 | 247 | #36 |
| 2008 | 268 | #32 |
| 2007 | 242 | #33 |
| 2006 | 195 | #39 |
| 2005 | 226 | #31 |
| 2004 | 232 | #31 |
| 2003 | 218 | #32 |
| 2002 | 201 | #33 |
| 2001 | 243 | #31 |
| 2000 | 220 | #33 |
| 1999 | 219 | #31 |
| 1998 | 168 | #40 |
| 1997 | 268 | #33 |
| 1996 | 256 | #34 |
| 1995 | 241 | #33 |
| 1994 | 269 | #29 |
| 1993 | 285 | #27 |
| 1992 | 251 | #31 |
| 1991 | 293 | #23 |
| 1990 | 294 | #25 |
| 1989 | 333 | #21 |
| 1988 | 331 | #24 |
| 1987 | 395 | #20 |
| 1986 | 409 | #18 |
| 1985 | 386 | #23 |
| 1984 | 411 | #21 |
| 1983 | 453 | #18 |
| 1982 | 449 | #21 |
| 1981 | 426 | #22 |
| 1980 | 446 | #20 |
| 1979 | 421 | #19 |
| 1978 | 374 | #23 |
| 1977 | 411 | #20 |
| 1976 | 396 | #22 |
| 1975 | 389 | #23 |
| 1974 | 462 | #16 |
| 1973 | 458 | #20 |
| 1972 | 474 | #17 |
| 1971 | 508 | #19 |
| 1970 | 483 | #16 |
| 1969 | 536 | #14 |
| 1968 | 599 | #13 |
| 1967 | 612 | #12 |
| 1966 | 680 | #11 |
| 1965 | 705 | #11 |
| 1964 | 737 | #11 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Joseph mean?
God shall add
Hebrew Yosef, through Latin into English.
Say it right
JOEsef
Many people say JOE-zef.
The story of Joseph
Joseph comes from the Hebrew Yosef, usually understood as “God shall add”, and reached English through Latin. Two major figures in the Bible carry it. One is the favourite son of Jacob, given the coat of many colours. The other is Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
The Irish form of the name is Seosamh. Among many Irish bearers is Joseph Mary Plunkett, the poet who was one of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation.
In 1964, the first year of CSO data, 737 boys were named Joseph, making it number 11. It has stayed in the top 100 every year since, though it has drifted down in recent decades and was number 64 in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best place was 22nd, in 2013.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Joseph (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Joseph
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
JoeJoey
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph | 86 | 19,547 |
In Northern Ireland
#54 in 2025 with 40 babies. Best rank #22 (2013); 2,266 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.