Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Josie
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “pet form of Josephine, 'he will add'”
- Meaning
- pet form of Josephine, 'he will add'
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- JOH-see
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #82
- US babies 2025
- 3,021
- Best rank
- #82 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Josie
Josie is an English and Hebrew name that means “pet form of Josephine, 'he will add'”.
Josie began as a pet form of Josephine, the French feminine of Joseph, a Hebrew name meaning he will add. Josephine became famous through Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon. Josie has long been used on its own, especially in the United States, where it had a strong run in the early twentieth century. It is now enjoying a revival as parents look for cheerful vintage names. Josie feels friendly, spirited and a little playful. It can stand as a full name or serve as a nickname for Josephine or Joselyn.
Other spellings with the same sound: Josey.
Popularity over time
Josie 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. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #82, and its highest count, 3,021 babies. Use has grown 134% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #314 in 1920, #523 in 1950, #664 in 1980, #328 in 2000, #262 in 2010, and #82 in 2025. Of the 75,370 US girls named Josie since records began, 20% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 13,927 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lucia, Lyla, Melody, Liliana, and Maeve.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Josie ranked highest in Mississippi, Maine, and Montana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #21 | 48 |
| Maine | #24 | 25 |
| Montana | #27 | 19 |
| Kentucky | #29 | 86 |
| Idaho | #31 | 39 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Josie is usually pronounced JOH-see, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with J and ends in “-ie”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Josey.
Middle names for Josie
A few middle names that flow with Josie: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Josie
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Lists that include Josie
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Josie mean?
Josie is an English and Hebrew name that means “pet form of Josephine, 'he will add'”.
What is the origin of the name Josie?
Josie has English and Hebrew roots. Josie began as a pet form of Josephine, the French feminine of Joseph, a Hebrew name meaning he will add.
Is Josie a popular name?
Yes. Josie ranked #82 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Josie a boy or girl name?
Josie is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Josie?
Josie is usually pronounced JOH-see. 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