Josh
Say it: JOSH/ˈd͡ʒɒʃ/
BoyMeans from Joshua, usually explained as "God is salvation"4 letters1 syllable
#188
in Ireland (2025)
25
babies in 2025
#56
best rank (2003)
2,376
babies since 1989
Down 95
10-year rank change
Josh through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #188 |
| 2024 | 32 | #154 |
| 2023 | 54 | #110 |
| 2022 | 42 | #144 |
| 2021 | 45 | #140 |
| 2020 | 48 | #128 |
| 2019 | 69 | #99 |
| 2018 | 63 | #105 |
| 2017 | 59 | #110 |
| 2016 | 88 | #78 |
| 2015 | 78 | #93 |
| 2014 | 94 | #84 |
| 2013 | 83 | #90 |
| 2012 | 103 | #78 |
| 2011 | 99 | #77 |
| 2010 | 116 | #69 |
| 2009 | 133 | #65 |
| 2008 | 114 | #75 |
| 2007 | 126 | #63 |
| 2006 | 114 | #67 |
| 2005 | 142 | #56 |
| 2004 | 134 | #58 |
| 2003 | 118 | #56 |
| 2002 | 109 | #62 |
| 2001 | 70 | #81 |
| 2000 | 58 | #89 |
| 1999 | 46 | #102 |
| 1998 | 35 | #114 |
| 1997 | 29 | #139 |
| 1996 | 11 | #208 |
| 1995 | 11 | #206 |
| 1994 | 9 | #208 |
| 1993 | 6 | #255 |
| 1992 | 5 | #267 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1989 | 4 | #278 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Josh mean?
From Joshua, usually explained as "God is salvation"
English, a short form of Joshua, and in the past of Josiah.
Say it right
JOSH
The story of Josh
Josh is a short form of Joshua, and in earlier times of Josiah. It has been in use since the nineteenth century, and is now often given as a name in its own right. Joshua comes from the Hebrew Yehoshua, usually explained as “God is salvation”. In the Bible, Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses.
In Ireland Josh first reached the CSO list in 1989. It grew quickly around the turn of the century and had its best years in the mid-2000s. The most babies came in 2005, with 142 boys, and it reached number 56 in both 2003 and 2005. It did better still in Northern Ireland, reaching 38th in 2005.
It has eased off since, and 25 boys were named Josh in 2025. The CSO counts Joshua separately, and the longer form has usually been the more popular of the two.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Josh (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Josh
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Josh | 25 | 2,376 |
In Northern Ireland
#395 in 2025 with 3 babies. Best rank #38 (2005); 941 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.