Jose Boy

Popularity: #90 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ho-ZAY /xoˈse/

Origin: Spanish; Portuguese

Meaning: Spanish: God will add; Portuguese: God increases

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jose is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "He will add" or "God will add." This name was transliterated into Greek as Ioseph and subsequently into Latin as Iosephus. The name made its way into Old Spanish as José, influenced by the Latin form, and became widely used in the Spanish-speaking world.

The transition into English occurred through the adoption of the name by Spanish and Portuguese speakers, particularly during the periods of exploration and colonization from the 15th century onward. Historically, the name Jose is significant due to its biblical roots, as Joseph is a prominent figure in both the Old and New Testaments.

In the Old Testament, Joseph is known as the favored son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and later became a powerful figure in Egypt. In the New Testament, Joseph is recognized as the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, which further solidified the name's importance in Christian tradition.

The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, with notable figures such as Saint Joseph, who is venerated in Christianity, particularly within the Catholic Church. Culturally, the name Jose carries a rich resonance, often associated with strength, resilience, and familial loyalty, reflecting the characteristics of its biblical namesake.

The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Pepe, which is commonly used in Spanish-speaking cultures. The enduring nature of the name Jose can be attributed to its deep historical roots and the cultural significance attached to its biblical associations, making it a name that has transcended time and geography.

Famous people named Jose

In this section, you will find notable people named Jose. 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 Jose who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jose 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.

Jose Carreras is a tenor best known for his operatic performances and as a member of The Three Tenors.

Jose Mourinho is a football manager best known for his time with Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United.

Jose Feliciano is a singer and guitarist best known for his rendition of 'Feliz Navidad' and 'Light My Fire.'.

Jose Canseco is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the Oakland Athletics and his controversial autobiography.

Jose Reyes is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the New York Mets and Miami Marlins.

Jose Altuve is a professional baseball player best known for his achievements with the Houston Astros.

Jose Saramago is a novelist best known for his works Blindness and The Gospel According to Jesus Christ.

Jose Gonzalez is a singer-songwriter best known for his songs 'Heartbeats' and 'Crosses.'.

Jose Luis Rodriguez is a singer and actor best known for his hit songs and television appearances in Latin America.

Jose Manuel Calderon is a former professional basketball player best known for his time in the NBA and international play with Spain.

Fictional characters named Jose

The following list of fictional characters named Jose 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.

Jose is a fictional character from the video game series Metal Gear Solid. He is a member of the resistance against the oppressive regime in the game's narrative.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jose, 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 Jose. 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 Jose was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Jose has ranked as high as #41 nationally, which occurred in 2002, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Arizona.

In the past 5 years the name Jose has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jose 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 Jose was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Jose (2024)

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.

State Births Share
TX 1,010
28%
CA 713
20%
FL 234
6%
AZ 180
5%
NC 123
3%
GA 114
3%
IL 112
3%
NY 96
3%
WA 68
2%
TN 65
2%
VA 61
2%
MD 54
1%
IN 51
1%
OH 45
1%
PA 44
1%

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 Jose.

YearBirths
20243,768
20233,720
20224,030
20214,001
20203,854
20194,132
20184,318
20174,813
20165,119
20155,176
20145,485
20135,627
20126,041
20116,763
20107,701
20098,818
20089,825
200711,252
200611,603
200512,065
200412,187
200312,394
200212,868
200112,142
200012,585
199912,155
199812,375
199711,927
199612,155
199511,780
199411,729
199311,847
199211,822
199111,728
199011,518
198910,330
19889,008
19878,738
19868,363
19858,402
19848,013
19838,074
19828,622
19818,773
19808,322
19797,848
19787,147
19776,918
19767,061
19756,967
19746,721
19736,096
19725,935
19716,004
19705,691
19695,185
19684,793
19674,416
19664,193
19653,965
19643,974
19634,013
19623,826
19613,756
19603,915
19593,580
19583,425
19573,472
19563,398
19553,309
19543,230
19533,017
19522,689
19512,684
19502,638
19492,440
19482,262
19472,091
19461,859
19451,608
19441,512
19431,373
19421,310
19411,194
19401,169
19391,098
19381,158
19371,086
19361,119
19351,168
19341,221
19331,171
19321,316
19311,360
19301,600
19291,692
19281,770
19271,636
19261,474
19251,449
19241,393
19231,325
19221,257
19211,210
19201,241
19191,026
1918871
1917800
1916686
1915659
1914552
1913432
1912356
1911268
1910249
1909213
1908192
1907170
1906154
1905200
1904144
1903141
1902125
1901127
1900161
189990
1898110
189785
1896104
1895104
189494
189384
1892106
189177
189093
188980
188899
188795
188685
1885111
1884112
188374
188295
188175
188084