Meaning, origin, history
Joshua is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It means "God is salvation" or "God saves". In the Bible, Joshua was a major prophet and the successor to Moses as leader of the Israelites. He led them into the Promised Land after they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, similar to how Moses parted the Red Sea. The name Joshua has been popular among Christians since biblical times but has also gained popularity in recent years among people of various faiths. It is often shortened to Josh or Joshy and can be paired with a variety of middle names and surnames. Despite its biblical roots, Joshua remains a timeless and universal name choice for boys today.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Josua since 1880
Total births
768
Total since 1880
Peak year
1987
50 births
in 2020
8
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-60%
↘
vs previous 5 years