Josepha is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Yosef," which means "he will add." In the Bible, Yosef was the son of Jacob and the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, who became the founders of two of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The name Josepha first appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have been brought to Europe by Jewish merchants traveling from the Mediterranean region. Over time, the name gained popularity among Christians as well as Jews.
There are several notable figures throughout history who have borne the name Josepha. One of the most famous was Empress Maria Josepha of Austria (1751-1847), who was a member of the Habsburg dynasty and the wife of King Louis XVI of France.
Today, Josepha is still used as a given name, particularly in Europe and North America. It remains a unique and distinctive name with a rich history and meaningful origin.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Josepha in the United States from 1888 to 2016. Over this period of 129 years, a total of 407 babies were named Josepha.
Interestingly, the popularity of the name Josepha has fluctuated significantly over time. The highest number of births recorded with the name was in 1925, with 13 newborn girls named Josepha. Conversely, there were years where only 5 babies were named Josepha (1940, 1955, and 2016).
The majority of these births occurred between the early 1900s and mid-1960s. After this period, the number of newborn girls named Josepha decreased significantly, with only a handful of births per year since the late 1970s.
It is worth noting that the name Josepha has become quite rare in recent years, with only 5 or 7 births recorded each year between 2002 and 2016. This trend suggests that the name may no longer be a popular choice for parents in the United States today.
However, it's always possible that the popularity of the name Josepha could experience a resurgence in future years, as naming trends often cycle through generations.