Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin that means "God is salvation." It is derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, which was borne by several figures in the Old Testament of the Bible, including Moses' successor and the first High Priest. The name Joshua became popular during the Middle Ages due to its association with these biblical figures. Today, it is commonly used in English-speaking countries as a boy's name but has also been used occasionally for girls. Some notable individuals named Joshua include American singer-songwriter Josh Groban and British actor Josh Hartnett.
The name Joshua has a rich history and interesting trends over the years in the United States. From its humble beginnings with only 57 births in 1880, it gained popularity steadily until it became one of the most popular boy names in recent decades.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Joshua's popularity fluctuated, with years seeing as few as 17 births (in 1902) and others reaching up to 44 (in 1910). It was not until the 1940s that Joshua began to consistently rank higher in popularity. In 1946, there were 113 births, marking a significant increase from previous years.
The 1950s saw another leap in popularity for the name Joshua. With 245 births in 1955 and 276 in 1958, it became clear that this biblical name was gaining favor among parents. This trend continued throughout the following decades, with peaks such as 36,055 births in 1980 and 39,028 in 1981.
However, like many other names, Joshua's popularity started to decline after reaching its peak in the mid-1980s. From 1992 onwards, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of babies named Joshua each year. Despite this decline, it remained among the top 100 names for boys throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
In more recent years, particularly after 2007, the name Joshua has continued to decrease in popularity, falling out of the top 1000 names by 2023. This decline can be attributed to changing trends in baby naming, with parents often preferring unique and modern names over classic ones like Joshua.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there have been 1,238,699 babies named Joshua in the United States, making it one of the most common and historic boy names in American history. Despite its fluctuations in popularity over time, Joshua remains a name with deep roots and enduring significance.