Iosif Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: YOH-sif /ˈjoʊsɪf/
Origin: Hebrew; Greek; Slavic
Meaning: Hebrew: God will add; Greek: the one who adds; Slavic: variant of Joseph
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Iosif is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "He will add" or "God will increase." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where Joseph is a significant figure, known for his story in the Book of Genesis, which dates back to the early 1st millennium BCE. The name was later adopted into Greek as Ioseph, which is reflected in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures produced in the 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE.
From Greek, it transitioned into Latin as Iosephus, and subsequently into Old French as Josse or Joseph, before entering the English language as Joseph in the Middle Ages. Throughout history, the name has been borne by various notable figures, including saints and biblical characters.
One of the most prominent is Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus, who is venerated in Christianity. His feast day is celebrated on March 19, and he is recognized as the patron saint of workers and fathers.
The name's significance was further solidified during the Renaissance, when it was frequently used in religious contexts and artistic representations, particularly in Christian iconography. Culturally, Iosif has been associated with themes of faith, family, and providence, resonating deeply within various traditions.
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the name is often celebrated, and its variants, such as Iosif in Slavic languages, have been widely adopted. The name's enduring legacy is reflected in its use across different cultures and languages, maintaining a connection to its biblical roots and historical significance.
The diminutive form, Joska, is also noted in some cultures, highlighting the name's adaptability and affection in familial contexts.
Fictional characters named Iosif
The following list of fictional characters named Iosif 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.
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Iosif is a fictional character from the novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. He is a minor character who plays a role in the philosophical and moral discussions central to the story.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Iosif, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Iosif. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Iosif was first seen in the United States in 1985.
Iosif has ranked as high as #1367 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Iosif has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Iosif 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 Iosif was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Iosif
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
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 Iosif.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 1985 | 5 |