Yosiah Boy

Popularity: #883 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: yo-SIGH-uh //joʊˈsaɪə//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Yahweh is salvation (Hebrew); variant of Josiah (English)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Yosiah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the name יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoshiyahu), which translates to "Yahweh supports" or "Yahweh heals." The name is composed of two elements: "Yah," a shortened form of the Tetragrammaton YHWH, the name of God in Hebrew tradition, and "shiyah," meaning to support or heal. This etymological foundation reflects the deep religious significance attributed to names in Hebrew culture, often embodying divine attributes or blessings.

Historically, Yosiah is closely associated with King Josiah of Judah, who reigned from approximately 640 to 609 BCE. He is noted in the Hebrew Bible for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh, as documented in the books of Kings and Chronicles.

Josiah's discovery of the Book of the Law during temple renovations marked a significant moment in Jewish history, leading to a renewed commitment to covenantal practices. This biblical figure's legacy has contributed to the name's enduring presence in Jewish tradition and its resonance in Christian contexts, particularly through translations of the Bible, including the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate.

Culturally, the name Yosiah embodies themes of divine support and healing, making it a symbol of hope and restoration. Its association with a revered king who sought to align his people with their faith has allowed the name to maintain its significance across generations.

While variations of the name exist, such as Josiah, the Hebrew form retains a distinct connection to its linguistic and cultural origins, reflecting the historical importance of names in conveying identity and heritage.

Sibling suggestions

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

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Yosiah was first seen in the United States in 2004.

Yosiah has ranked as high as #5272 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Yosiah 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 Yosiah 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 Yosiah.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 55 55
2024 45 45
2023 51 51
2022 38 38
2021 30 30
2020 32 32
2019 26 26
2018 15 15
2017 13 13
2016 16 16
2015 14 14
2014 14 14
2013 19 19
2012 9 9
2011 9 9
2010 8 8
2009 8 8
2007 7 7
2006 5 5
2005 5 5
2004 9 9

Top States for Yosiah (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
FL 7
39%
NC 6
33%
OH 5
28%