Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin that means "God is salvation." In the Bible, Joshua was a major prophet who succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites. After Moses' death, Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land, where he fought against the Canaanites and conquered several cities.
The name Joshua has been popular throughout history among Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. It was borne by several important figures in history, including King Joshua of Judah (around 600 BCE), who is credited with reorganizing the kingdom's territory after it had been divided into two separate kingdoms following the death of Solomon.
In modern times, the name Joshua has become increasingly popular as a given name for boys. It was among the top ten most popular names for boys in several countries during the 1990s and early 2000s, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, it remains a widely-used and well-liked name around the world.
Some famous people named Joshua include Joshua Bell, an American violinist; Joshua Jackson, an American-Canadian actor best known for his role on the television series "Dawson's Creek"; and Joshua Redman, an American jazz saxophonist. The name Joshua also appears in literature, most notably as the main character in C.S. Lewis' fantasy novel "The Chronicles of Narnia.
"The name Josha experienced a significant rise in popularity between 1977 and 1982, peaking at 27 births in 1982. However, it began to decline thereafter, with the most recent years showing fewer than 10 births each."