Yusef Boy

Popularity: #855 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: YOO-sef //juːˈsɛf//

Origin: Arabic; Hebrew

Meaning: Arabic: God increases; Hebrew: He will add

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Yusef is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "He will add" or "God will increase." The etymological journey begins in ancient Hebrew, where the name appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of one of the twelve sons of Jacob, Joseph, who is a significant figure in the Book of Genesis. The name then transitioned into Greek as Ioseph and later into Latin as Iosephus, which was used in various historical texts, including the works of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the 1st century CE.

From Latin, the name made its way into Old French as Josse and subsequently into Middle English as Joseph, with Yusef being a variant that reflects the Arabic influence on the name. In Islamic tradition, Yusef is recognized as a prophet, and his story is recounted in the Quran, where he is known for his beauty and ability to interpret dreams.

This narrative parallels the biblical account and has contributed to the name's significance in both Jewish and Islamic cultures. The Quranic version of the story, which dates back to the 7th century CE, further solidified the name's importance in the Islamic world, where it is often used in various forms across different cultures.

Culturally, Yusef carries connotations of divine favor and abundance, reflecting its original meaning. The name has been associated with various historical figures, including saints and scholars throughout the centuries, which has helped maintain its resonance in religious and cultural contexts.

In addition to its religious significance, Yusef has also been a popular name in literature and art, symbolizing themes of resilience and redemption. The diminutive form, Yusuf, is commonly used in Arabic-speaking countries, showcasing the name's adaptability across different languages and cultures.

Famous people named Yusef

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

We also feature individuals named Yusef 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.

Yusef Lateef is a musician and composer best known for his work in jazz and world music, particularly with the album Eastern Sounds.

Yusef Komunyakaa is a poet best known for his collections Neon Vernacular, Thieves of Paradise, and The Emperor of Water Clocks.

Yusef al-Qaradawi is a theologian and Islamic scholar best known for his work in Islamic jurisprudence and as a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood.

Sibling suggestions

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

ZaydAmirKhalidOmarHassanAmin

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Yusef. 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.

YusufYosefYounesYazidYasirYazminYaraYasmin

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Yusef was first seen in the United States in 1962.

Yusef has ranked as high as #3490 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in New York, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Yusef 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 Yusef 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 Yusef.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 83 83
2024 104 104
2023 63 63
2022 69 69
2021 55 55
2020 53 53
2019 54 54
2018 63 63
2017 59 59
2016 52 52
2015 75 75
2014 76 76
2013 55 55
2012 69 69
2011 71 71
2010 80 80
2009 69 69
2008 82 82
2007 88 88
2006 81 81
2005 65 65
2004 55 55
2003 44 44
2002 58 58
2001 53 53
2000 51 51
1999 51 51
1998 46 46
1997 50 50
1996 53 53
1995 48 48
1994 53 53
1993 51 51
1992 45 45
1991 45 45
1990 53 53
1989 44 44
1988 43 43
1987 20 20
1986 26 26
1985 28 28
1984 31 31
1983 27 27
1982 46 46
1981 45 45
1980 36 36
1979 38 38
1978 43 43
1977 43 43
1976 55 55
1975 45 45
1974 37 37
1973 52 52
1972 56 56
1971 42 42
1970 46 46
1969 23 23
1968 12 12
1967 17 17
1966 8 8
1965 10 10
1964 12 12
1962 9 9

Top States for Yusef (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
NY 21
40%
CA 15
28%
TX 11
21%
FL 6
11%