Yusuf Boy

Popularity: #412 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: YOO-suf //ˈjuːsəf//

Origin: Arabic; Hebrew

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

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Yusuf is of Arabic origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "He will add" or "God will increase." The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where Joseph, the son of Jacob, is a prominent figure known for his coat of many colors and his rise to power in Egypt. The name was later adopted into Greek as Ioseph and subsequently into Latin as Josephus, before being introduced into various languages, including Arabic as Yusuf.

This transition highlights the cultural exchanges that occurred through trade and conquests in the ancient Near East. Yusuf is notably recognized in Islamic tradition as a prophet and is the central figure of Surah Yusuf in the Quran, which recounts his life story, emphasizing themes of patience, faith, and divine providence.

The Quranic narrative, which dates back to the 7th century, parallels the biblical account but includes unique elements that underscore moral and spiritual lessons. The name Yusuf has thus been associated with nobility and virtue in both Jewish and Islamic cultures, contributing to its enduring significance.

Throughout history, Yusuf has been a popular name among Muslim communities, often symbolizing strength and resilience. The name has also been borne by various historical figures, including rulers and scholars, which further cemented its status in different cultures.

In addition to its religious and historical connotations, the name has inspired numerous works of art, literature, and folklore across the Middle East and beyond, reflecting its deep cultural resonance. The diminutive form Youssef is also commonly used in Arabic-speaking regions, maintaining the name's connection to its roots while adapting to local linguistic preferences.

Famous people named Yusuf

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

We also feature individuals named Yusuf 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.

Yusuf Islam is a musician best known for his work as Cat Stevens, including albums such as Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat.

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

Fictional characters named Yusuf

The following list of fictional characters named Yusuf 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.

Yusuf is a fictional character from the video game Assassin's Creed: Revelations. He is a key figure in the story, serving as a mentor to the protagonist, Ezio Auditore, and playing a significant role in the Assassin Brotherhood's history.

Sibling suggestions

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

YasirYasminaYaraYasminYazidYvonne

Similar names

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

YasinYazidYoussefYasirYaraYasminaYvetteYolanda

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Yusuf was first seen in the United States in 1949.

Yusuf has ranked as high as #904 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Yusuf 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 Yusuf 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 Yusuf.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 698 698
2024 646 646
2023 610 610
2022 519 519
2021 507 507
2020 487 487
2019 515 515
2018 488 488
2017 478 478
2016 496 496
2015 468 468
2014 469 469
2013 415 415
2012 384 384
2011 320 320
2010 324 324
2009 297 297
2008 272 272
2007 277 277
2006 211 211
2005 183 183
2004 173 173
2003 161 161
2002 146 146
2001 162 162
2000 121 121
1999 106 106
1998 96 96
1997 68 68
1996 82 82
1995 85 85
1994 63 63
1993 68 68
1992 61 61
1991 59 59
1990 48 48
1989 59 59
1988 45 45
1987 33 33
1986 36 36
1985 54 54
1984 52 52
1983 41 41
1982 37 37
1981 41 41
1980 48 48
1979 49 49
1978 65 65
1977 52 52
1976 39 39
1975 47 47
1974 39 39
1973 33 33
1972 26 26
1971 20 20
1970 22 22
1969 10 10
1968 8 8
1967 7 7
1965 6 6
1964 7 7
1961 6 6
1960 5 5
1949 5 5

Top States for Yusuf (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 111
18%
CA 53
9%
TX 48
8%
IL 44
7%
PA 41
7%
MN 37
6%
NJ 35
6%
OH 33
5%
MI 30
5%
VA 27
4%
FL 24
4%
WA 19
3%
MD 17
3%
MA 16
3%
GA 13
2%
MO 12
2%
NC 11
2%
CT 8
1%
WI 7
1%
TN 7
1%
KS 6
1%
OR 6
1%