Hosea Boy

Popularity: #871 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ho-ZAY-uh //hoʊˈzeɪə//

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: salvation

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Hosea originates from the Hebrew name הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshéa), which means "salvation" or "to save." This name is derived from the root verb ישע (yasha), meaning "to deliver" or "to rescue." The transition of the name into other languages occurred through the Greek form Ὡσηέ (Hōsēé) and subsequently into Latin as Osee, before finally being adopted into Old French and then English. The name is thus rooted in ancient Semitic languages and has traveled through various linguistic transformations over the centuries.

Historically, Hosea is most notably recognized as a biblical figure, being one of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible. His prophetic ministry is dated to the 8th century BCE, during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, marked by political instability and moral decay.

The Book of Hosea, which bears his name, addresses themes of infidelity and redemption, using the metaphor of marital fidelity to illustrate the relationship between God and Israel. This text has been influential in both Jewish and Christian traditions, contributing to the theological understanding of divine love and forgiveness.

Culturally, the name Hosea carries significant weight due to its biblical roots and the moral lessons encapsulated in the prophetic writings. It has been associated with themes of hope and restoration, resonating through various religious teachings and interpretations.

The name has also inspired various diminutive forms and related names, such as Oshea, which reflect its enduring legacy in different cultures. Overall, Hosea remains a name rich in historical and spiritual significance, symbolizing the concepts of salvation and divine mercy.

Famous people named Hosea

In this section, you will find notable people named Hosea. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Hosea who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Hosea who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Hosea Williams was a civil rights leader best known for his work with Martin Luther King Jr., the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the Atlanta chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Fictional characters named Hosea

The following list of fictional characters named Hosea is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Hosea is a fictional character from the video game Red Dead Redemption 2. He is a senior member of the Van der Linde gang and serves as a mentor and father figure to Arthur Morgan.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hosea, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

IsaiahJosiahElijahNehemiahZachariah

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Hosea. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

HoseHoseyHoseanJosiahIsaiahElishaHezekiahZebediah

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Hosea was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Hosea has ranked as high as #1575 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana.

In the past 5 years the name Hosea has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Hosea is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Hosea was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Hosea.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 67 67 0
2024 60 60 0
2023 56 56 0
2022 65 65 0
2021 49 49 0
2020 61 61 0
2019 44 44 0
2018 61 61 0
2017 56 56 0
2016 56 56 0
2015 68 68 0
2014 64 64 0
2013 45 45 0
2012 62 62 0
2011 40 40 0
2010 51 51 0
2009 26 26 0
2008 30 30 0
2007 29 29 0
2006 32 32 0
2005 27 27 0
2004 26 26 0
2003 29 29 0
2002 28 28 0
2001 37 37 0
2000 32 32 0
1999 26 26 0
1998 24 24 0
1997 23 23 0
1996 38 38 0
1995 27 27 0
1994 27 27 0
1993 31 31 0
1992 23 23 0
1991 47 47 0
1990 40 40 0
1989 31 31 0
1988 38 38 0
1987 26 26 0
1986 29 29 0
1985 34 34 0
1984 18 18 0
1983 26 26 0
1982 22 22 0
1981 30 30 0
1980 29 29 0
1979 40 40 0
1978 30 30 0
1977 41 41 0
1976 26 26 0
1975 45 45 0
1974 42 42 0
1973 48 48 0
1972 45 45 0
1971 38 38 0
1970 39 39 0
1969 34 34 0
1968 46 46 0
1967 36 36 0
1966 29 29 0
1965 42 42 0
1964 49 49 0
1963 60 60 0
1962 42 42 0
1961 50 50 0
1960 51 51 0
1959 54 54 0
1958 60 60 0
1957 56 56 0
1956 58 58 0
1955 58 58 0
1954 55 55 0
1953 43 43 0
1952 47 47 0
1951 69 69 0
1950 55 55 0
1949 44 44 0
1948 57 57 0
1947 47 47 0
1946 40 40 0
1945 26 26 0
1944 38 38 0
1943 43 43 0
1942 35 35 0
1941 52 52 0
1940 55 55 0
1939 49 49 0
1938 34 34 0
1937 55 55 0
1936 52 52 0
1935 31 31 0
1934 47 47 0
1933 50 50 0
1932 59 59 0
1931 54 49 5
1930 48 48 0
1929 39 39 0
1928 41 41 0
1927 72 67 5
1926 58 58 0
1925 74 74 0
1924 65 65 0
1923 72 72 0
1922 49 49 0
1921 61 56 5
1920 62 62 0
1919 56 56 0
1918 49 49 0
1917 49 49 0
1916 56 56 0
1915 45 45 0
1914 37 32 5
1913 33 33 0
1912 32 32 0
1911 13 13 0
1910 21 21 0
1909 12 12 0
1908 17 17 0
1907 12 12 0
1906 13 13 0
1905 20 20 0
1904 15 15 0
1903 11 11 0
1902 25 25 0
1901 11 11 0
1900 18 18 0
1899 6 6 0
1898 18 18 0
1897 11 11 0
1896 14 14 0
1895 12 12 0
1894 7 7 0
1893 15 15 0
1892 11 11 0
1891 10 10 0
1890 10 10 0
1889 15 15 0
1888 17 17 0
1887 16 16 0
1886 17 17 0
1885 24 24 0
1884 19 19 0
1883 11 11 0
1882 10 10 0
1881 16 16 0
1880 10 10 0

Top States for Hosea (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
OH 7
35%
PA 7
35%
CA 6
30%