Is Joshua a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Joshua is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Joshua?

It’s currently ranked #56 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Joshua?

JOSH-uh · IPA: //ˈdʒɒʃ.ə//

Joshua Boy

Popularity: #56 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationJOSH-uh / /ˈdʒɒʃ.ə/

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: God is salvation; English: derived from Hebrew

Historical & Cultural Background

Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical figure who succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites. The name has been popular in various cultures, especially in Christian and Jewish communities. It has seen a resurgence in popularity in the United States since the 1970s, often associated with strong leadership and faith.

Trend Summary

Joshua has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States, peaking in popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Variants

Josh
Josue

International Variants

Yehoshua (Hebrew)
Josué (Spanish)
Jozua (Dutch)
Giosuè (Italian)

Famous people named Joshua

Joshua Bell is an acclaimed American violinist known for his exceptional talent and performances.

Joshua Jackson is a Canadian-American actor recognized for his roles in television series such as 'Dawson's Creek' and 'Fringe'.

Joshua Reynolds was an influential 18th-century English painter known for his portraits.

Joshua Wong is a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and politician.

Fictional characters named Joshua

Joshua in 'The Bible' is a key figure who leads the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Joshua in 'The Last of Us' is a character referenced in the video game series, contributing to the narrative's emotional depth.

Sibling Suggestions

Jacob Isaac Samuel Ethan Daniel Matthew

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Joshua was first seen in the United States in 1880. Joshua has ranked as high as #6 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Joshua has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Joshua (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	638	13%
CA	599	12%
FL	427	9%
NY	348	7%
GA	207	4%
NC	174	4%
PA	156	3%
OH	156	3%
VA	150	3%
TN	143	3%
IL	139	3%
IN	126	3%
MA	124	2%
MD	118	2%
MI	105	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	57
1881	40
1882	50
1883	55
1884	41
1885	43
1886	55
1887	41
1888	50
1889	33
1890	24
1891	24
1892	41
1893	23
1894	24
1895	29
1896	30
1897	29
1898	39
1899	24
1900	36
1901	22
1902	17
1903	21
1904	19
1905	18
1906	27
1907	26
1908	29
1909	28
1910	44
1911	43
1912	60
1913	78
1914	87
1915	136
1916	99
1917	122
1918	118
1919	139
1920	128
1921	125
1922	124
1923	129
1924	114
1925	109
1926	105
1927	117
1928	118
1929	74
1930	90
1931	94
1932	111
1933	102
1934	106
1935	80
1936	101
1937	92
1938	71
1939	101
1940	90
1941	92
1942	111
1943	95
1944	104
1945	97
1946	113
1947	141
1948	130
1949	183
1950	161
1951	166
1952	178
1953	164
1954	193
1955	245
1956	239
1957	273
1958	276
1959	327
1960	314
1961	354
1962	335
1963	372
1964	389
1965	461
1966	486
1967	563
1968	731
1969	1,321
1970	2,174
1971	3,649
1972	5,033
1973	8,058
1974	11,599
1975	14,566
1976	16,846
1977	22,069
1978	25,206
1979	31,125
1980	36,054
1981	39,027
1982	38,003
1983	36,688
1984	40,266
1985	42,198
1986	37,541
1987	40,004
1988	42,650
1989	44,099
1990	43,233
1991	41,226
1992	36,220
1993	33,589
1994	31,375
1995	30,720
1996	29,174
1997	28,288
1998	28,095
1999	27,264
2000	27,542
2001	26,024
2002	25,997
2003	25,103
2004	24,213
2005	23,261
2006	22,334
2007	20,667
2008	19,228
2009	17,668
2010	15,463
2011	13,796
2012	12,677
2013	11,855
2014	10,926
2015	9,847
2016	9,253
2017	8,344
2018	7,443
2019	6,625
2020	6,011
2021	5,524
2022	5,195
2023	5,064
2024	5,244