Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "he will add". It is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which was borne by several figures in the Bible, including the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus according to Christian tradition.
The name Joseph has been popular throughout history, with many notable figures bearing this name. One of the most famous is Saint Joseph, the patron saint of workers and a carpenter by trade. He is also venerated as the foster father of Jesus in Christianity.
In literature, there have been several characters named Joseph, including Joseph Andrews, the protagonist of Henry Fielding's novel "The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews", and Joseph Knecht, the main character in Thomas Mann's novel "Doctor Faustus".
Joseph has also been a popular name among royalty throughout history. For example, King Joseph I ruled Portugal from 1750 to 1777, while Emperor Joseph II was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790.
Today, Joseph remains a popular name around the world. It is often shortened to Joe or Joey in informal settings. Despite its long history and widespread use, the name Joseph has maintained its original meaning and association with strength, courage, and leadership.
The name Jozeph has seen varied popularity over the years, with a total of 112 babies being named Jozeph between 1991 and 2018. The most popular years for this name were 2002 to 2005, each seeing 6 births. The highest number of births in any single year was 11 in 2011.