Jose Boy
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 | |
| CA | 713 | |
| FL | 234 | |
| AZ | 180 | |
| NC | 123 | |
| GA | 114 | |
| IL | 112 | |
| NY | 96 | |
| WA | 68 | |
| TN | 65 | |
| VA | 61 | |
| MD | 54 | |
| IN | 51 | |
| OH | 45 | |
| PA | 44 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,768 |
| 2023 | 3,720 |
| 2022 | 4,030 |
| 2021 | 4,001 |
| 2020 | 3,854 |
| 2019 | 4,132 |
| 2018 | 4,318 |
| 2017 | 4,813 |
| 2016 | 5,119 |
| 2015 | 5,176 |
| 2014 | 5,485 |
| 2013 | 5,627 |
| 2012 | 6,041 |
| 2011 | 6,763 |
| 2010 | 7,701 |
| 2009 | 8,818 |
| 2008 | 9,825 |
| 2007 | 11,252 |
| 2006 | 11,603 |
| 2005 | 12,065 |
| 2004 | 12,187 |
| 2003 | 12,394 |
| 2002 | 12,868 |
| 2001 | 12,142 |
| 2000 | 12,585 |
| 1999 | 12,155 |
| 1998 | 12,375 |
| 1997 | 11,927 |
| 1996 | 12,155 |
| 1995 | 11,780 |
| 1994 | 11,729 |
| 1993 | 11,847 |
| 1992 | 11,822 |
| 1991 | 11,728 |
| 1990 | 11,518 |
| 1989 | 10,330 |
| 1988 | 9,008 |
| 1987 | 8,738 |
| 1986 | 8,363 |
| 1985 | 8,402 |
| 1984 | 8,013 |
| 1983 | 8,074 |
| 1982 | 8,622 |
| 1981 | 8,773 |
| 1980 | 8,322 |
| 1979 | 7,848 |
| 1978 | 7,147 |
| 1977 | 6,918 |
| 1976 | 7,061 |
| 1975 | 6,967 |
| 1974 | 6,721 |
| 1973 | 6,096 |
| 1972 | 5,935 |
| 1971 | 6,004 |
| 1970 | 5,691 |
| 1969 | 5,185 |
| 1968 | 4,793 |
| 1967 | 4,416 |
| 1966 | 4,193 |
| 1965 | 3,965 |
| 1964 | 3,974 |
| 1963 | 4,013 |
| 1962 | 3,826 |
| 1961 | 3,756 |
| 1960 | 3,915 |
| 1959 | 3,580 |
| 1958 | 3,425 |
| 1957 | 3,472 |
| 1956 | 3,398 |
| 1955 | 3,309 |
| 1954 | 3,230 |
| 1953 | 3,017 |
| 1952 | 2,689 |
| 1951 | 2,684 |
| 1950 | 2,638 |
| 1949 | 2,440 |
| 1948 | 2,262 |
| 1947 | 2,091 |
| 1946 | 1,859 |
| 1945 | 1,608 |
| 1944 | 1,512 |
| 1943 | 1,373 |
| 1942 | 1,310 |
| 1941 | 1,194 |
| 1940 | 1,169 |
| 1939 | 1,098 |
| 1938 | 1,158 |
| 1937 | 1,086 |
| 1936 | 1,119 |
| 1935 | 1,168 |
| 1934 | 1,221 |
| 1933 | 1,171 |
| 1932 | 1,316 |
| 1931 | 1,360 |
| 1930 | 1,600 |
| 1929 | 1,692 |
| 1928 | 1,770 |
| 1927 | 1,636 |
| 1926 | 1,474 |
| 1925 | 1,449 |
| 1924 | 1,393 |
| 1923 | 1,325 |
| 1922 | 1,257 |
| 1921 | 1,210 |
| 1920 | 1,241 |
| 1919 | 1,026 |
| 1918 | 871 |
| 1917 | 800 |
| 1916 | 686 |
| 1915 | 659 |
| 1914 | 552 |
| 1913 | 432 |
| 1912 | 356 |
| 1911 | 268 |
| 1910 | 249 |
| 1909 | 213 |
| 1908 | 192 |
| 1907 | 170 |
| 1906 | 154 |
| 1905 | 200 |
| 1904 | 144 |
| 1903 | 141 |
| 1902 | 125 |
| 1901 | 127 |
| 1900 | 161 |
| 1899 | 90 |
| 1898 | 110 |
| 1897 | 85 |
| 1896 | 104 |
| 1895 | 104 |
| 1894 | 94 |
| 1893 | 84 |
| 1892 | 106 |
| 1891 | 77 |
| 1890 | 93 |
| 1889 | 80 |
| 1888 | 99 |
| 1887 | 95 |
| 1886 | 85 |
| 1885 | 111 |
| 1884 | 112 |
| 1883 | 74 |
| 1882 | 95 |
| 1881 | 75 |
| 1880 | 84 |