Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Jose
BoySpanish, Hebrew· “he will add”
- Meaning
- he will add
- Origin
- Spanish, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- hoh-ZAY
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #95
- US babies 2025
- 3,678
- Best rank
- #28 (2004)
- Peak year
- 2002
Meaning and origin of Jose
Jose is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “he will add”.
José is the Spanish form of Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef, "he will add". Devotion to Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, made it one of the most common names across Spain and Latin America, often combined in double names such as José Luis, José Antonio and Juan José. It is also used in Portuguese, where it is pronounced differently. Famous bearers include José Martí, the Cuban poet and independence leader, and José de San Martín, a liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru. Pepe is the traditional Spanish nickname, and Josefina and Josefa are feminine forms. The name sounds warm and familiar.
Popularity over time
Jose has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #28 in 2004, and the most babies received it in 2002, when 12,868 were named Jose. In 2025, 3,678 babies were named Jose, and it ranked #95 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #130 in 1920, #109 in 1950, #46 in 1980, #34 in 2000, #52 in 2010, and #95 in 2025. Of the 592,512 US boys named Jose since records began, 20% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 115,743 babies. Since 2010, 78,261 more have been named Jose.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Caleb, Samuel, Aidan, Dylan, and Carlos.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jose ranked highest in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #15 | 991 |
| Arizona | #22 | 185 |
| New Mexico | #34 | 37 |
| California | #49 | 681 |
| Nevada | #76 | 39 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Jose is usually pronounced hoh-ZAY, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-se”.
Middle names for Jose
A few middle names that flow with Jose: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jose
Similar names
Miguel Boy
mee-GEHL
“who is like God?” · Spanish
#212
Matias Boy
mah-TEE-uhs
“gift of God” · Spanish
#170
Matthew Boy
MATH-yoo
“gift of Yahweh” · Hebrew
#32
Mateo Boy
mah-TAY-oh
“gift of God” · Spanish
#8
Jesse Boy
JEH-see
“uncertain; often said to mean gift” · Hebrew
#184
Michael Boy
MY-kuhl
“who is like God?” · Hebrew
#21
Joseph Boy
JOH-suhf
“he will add” · Hebrew
#29
David Boy
DAY-vihd
“beloved” · Hebrew
#35
Juan Boy
WAHN
“God is gracious” · Spanish
#159
Jesus Boy
hay-SOOS
“Yahweh is salvation” · Spanish
#173
Andres Boy
ahn-DREHS
“manly, brave” · Spanish
#200
Simon Boy
SY-muhn
“he has heard” · Hebrew
#230
Lists that include Jose
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jose mean?
Jose is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “he will add”.
What is the origin of the name Jose?
Jose has Spanish and Hebrew roots. José is the Spanish form of Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef, "he will add".
Is Jose a popular name?
Yes. Jose ranked #95 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Jose a boy or girl name?
Jose is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Jose?
Jose is usually pronounced hoh-ZAY. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings