Joseph

#8,362 for girls in 2025, 12 births · #29 for boys in 2025, 7,303 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
#5
1917 · 24,761 births
Debut · boys
1880
2,632 births
In top 100 · boys
146 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
2,669,490
since 1880

Joseph over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10rank188019001920194019601980200020201950peak #5, 1917boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#8,36212#297,303
2024#15,2935#327,261
2023#8,48612#297,279
2022#10,3839#307,839
2021#11,1468#288,166
2020#10,2509#268,486
2019#7,02516#249,179
2018#7,40915#239,682
2017#6,28719#1810,488
2016#8,39313#2010,969
2015#8,93112#2111,531
2014#14,5586#2012,155
2013#6,25520#2012,278
2012#7,45616#1912,594
2011#5,72823#2212,995
2010#7,51316#2013,851
2009#6,54420#1514,952
2008#4,88230#1316,599
2007#5,09728#1317,364
2006#4,81129#1118,471
2005#3,94236#919,241
2004#1,835103#920,147
2003#4,22031#621,394
2002#3,73035#721,920
2001#4,44727#822,030
2000#4,79124#822,844
1999#2,99144#823,220
1998#2,69150#1123,186
1997#2,73345#1223,604
1996#2,45152#1224,758
1995#2,15562#1225,354
1994#1,84177#1125,734
1993#2,04567#1227,014
1992#2,01068#1127,904
1991#1,67788#929,840
1990#1,73384#1030,137
1989#1,178139#1129,884
1988#930182#1229,019
1987#805217#1228,516
1986#807208#1228,834
1985#755227#1030,222
1984#763211#1030,513
1983#763211#1130,442
1982#810196#1131,035
1981#841186#1130,761
1980#763217#1030,185
1979#769209#1128,654
1978#828180#1026,663
1977#844176#1026,483
1976#921142#1224,055
1975#951132#1222,125
1974#984124#1221,834
1973#917134#1221,326
1972#949128#1222,454
1971#895148#1524,517
1970#929138#1626,714
1969#832154#1526,173
1968#887134#1625,396
1967#926122#1525,926
1966#1,042100#1526,981
1965#922120#1128,630
1964#969119#1130,576
1963#894137#1330,077
1962#1,054105#1330,090
1961#1,031112#1229,450
1960#976120#1229,749
1959#1,11692#1329,539
1958#1,18980#1230,115
1957#1,08393#1231,851
1956#1,13383#1232,749
1955#1,09584#1331,589
1954#1,13476#1331,221
1953#1,24161#1329,269
1952#1,14768#1228,510
1951#1,29252#1428,147
1950#1,15364#1327,022
1949#1,21056#1426,408
1948#1,05769#1326,801
1947#1,07968#1427,520
1946#1,08761#1424,284
1945#1,01558#1420,823
1944#84182#1321,176
1943#98665#1322,828
1942#86479#1122,429
1941#90366#1219,808
1940#89464#1218,208
1939#90360#1217,722
1938#81175#1217,742
1937#88261#1217,322
1936#80670#1117,453
1935#77576#1017,181
1934#71087#1017,111
1933#656100#917,162
1932#656104#918,566
1931#626112#919,326
1930#574141#920,981
1929#540159#921,165
1928#513182#922,322
1927#547167#923,503
1926#562161#823,756
1925#637132#724,613
1924#643135#725,421
1923#708106#725,561
1922#711104#725,699
1921#675120#726,182
1920#687112#725,587
1919#74389#724,266
1918#75190#726,261
1917#71394#524,761
1916#78277#523,883
1915#79169#523,051
1914#69269#518,829
1913#85238#514,471
1912#75744#512,062
1911#81128#66,488
1910#79429#65,228
1909#73130#64,348
1908#84921#64,162
1907#1,14212#73,844
1906#79321#73,527
1905#77722#73,302
1904#85318#73,291
1903#96913#63,121
1902#1,3208#73,098
1901#88114#62,766
1900#1,00814#73,714
1899#72819#62,679
1898#67923#63,171
1897#69920#62,827
1896#63524#63,051
1895#63823#72,992
1894#71917#62,977
1893#54726#62,997
1892#83013#73,064
1891#83911#72,572
1890#82511#72,670
1889#1,0257#72,729
1888#59318#72,993
1887#63313#72,456
1886#8288#72,594
1885#57614#72,540
1884#7319#72,707
1883#46517#72,515
1882#8136#72,670
1881#53910#72,456
1880#54710#72,632
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Joseph was already there! It came in at #7, and was given to 2,632 baby boys.

Quietest stretch: 1880–1899, when fewer than 3,200 boys a year got the name.

Where Joseph is popular in 1950

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #13 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 53 boysAKMaine: #26 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 90 boysMEVermont: #31 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 103 boysVTNew Hampshire: #23 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 88 boysNHWashington: #26 for boys · 224 births · 1 in 121 boysWAIdaho: #32 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 146 boysIDMontana: #29 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 120 boysMTNorth Dakota: #34 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 140 boysNDMinnesota: #27 for boys · 338 births · 1 in 105 boysMNIllinois: #15 for boys · 1,425 births · 1 in 65 boysILWisconsin: #21 for boys · 426 births · 1 in 92 boysWIMichigan: #18 for boys · 1,033 births · 1 in 75 boysMINew York: #9 for boys · 4,407 births · 1 in 34 boysNYMassachusetts: #11 for boys · 1,258 births · 1 in 38 boysMARhode Island: #9 for boys · 253 births · 1 in 32 boysRIOregon: #27 for boys · 129 births · 1 in 130 boysORNevada: #18 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 67 boysNVWyoming: #27 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 115 boysWYSouth Dakota: #31 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 139 boysSDIowa: #30 for boys · 234 births · 1 in 129 boysIAIndiana: #24 for boys · 495 births · 1 in 91 boysINOhio: #17 for boys · 1,330 births · 1 in 68 boysOHPennsylvania: #9 for boys · 3,423 births · 1 in 32 boysPANew Jersey: #8 for boys · 1,620 births · 1 in 28 boysNJConnecticut: #9 for boys · 546 births · 1 in 34 boysCTCalifornia: #22 for boys · 1,254 births · 1 in 97 boysCAUtah: #26 for boys · 96 births · 1 in 100 boysUTColorado: #21 for boys · 187 births · 1 in 87 boysCONebraska: #25 for boys · 143 births · 1 in 104 boysNEMissouri: #18 for boys · 514 births · 1 in 81 boysMOKentucky: #16 for boys · 514 births · 1 in 69 boysKYWest Virginia: #20 for boys · 293 births · 1 in 83 boysWVVirginia: #17 for boys · 485 births · 1 in 76 boysVAMaryland: #10 for boys · 563 births · 1 in 43 boysMDDelaware: #9 for boys · 95 births · 1 in 35 boysDEArizona: #26 for boys · 88 births · 1 in 113 boysAZNew Mexico: #13 for boys · 131 births · 1 in 76 boysNMKansas: #24 for boys · 176 births · 1 in 113 boysKSArkansas: #35 for boys · 132 births · 1 in 169 boysARTennessee: #31 for boys · 295 births · 1 in 133 boysTNNorth Carolina: #17 for boys · 577 births · 1 in 87 boysNCSouth Carolina: #13 for boys · 413 births · 1 in 69 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #10 for boys · 277 births · 1 in 47 boysDCOklahoma: #37 for boys · 128 births · 1 in 186 boysOKLouisiana: #8 for boys · 760 births · 1 in 47 boysLAMississippi: #25 for boys · 240 births · 1 in 121 boysMSAlabama: #23 for boys · 374 births · 1 in 102 boysALGeorgia: #17 for boys · 526 births · 1 in 83 boysGAHawaii: #19 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 89 boysHITexas: #31 for boys · 615 births · 1 in 169 boysTXFlorida: #13 for boys · 450 births · 1 in 68 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New Jersey#8 · 1 in 28
  2. Louisiana#8 · 1 in 47
  3. Rhode Island#9 · 1 in 32
  4. Pennsylvania#9 · 1 in 32
  5. Connecticut#9 · 1 in 34

Best ever in a state: #2 in New Hampshire, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Louisiana#87601 in 47
New Jersey#81,6201 in 28
Connecticut#95461 in 34
Delaware#9951 in 35
New York#94,4071 in 34
Pennsylvania#93,4231 in 32
Rhode Island#92531 in 32
District of Columbia#102771 in 47
Maryland#105631 in 43
Massachusetts#111,2581 in 38
Alaska#13261 in 53
Florida#134501 in 68
New Mexico#131311 in 76
South Carolina#134131 in 69
Illinois#151,4251 in 65
Kentucky#165141 in 69
Georgia#175261 in 83
North Carolina#175771 in 87
Ohio#171,3301 in 68
Virginia#174851 in 76
Michigan#181,0331 in 75
Missouri#185141 in 81
Nevada#18211 in 67
Hawaii#19661 in 89
West Virginia#202931 in 83
Colorado#211871 in 87
Wisconsin#214261 in 92
California#221,2541 in 97
Alabama#233741 in 102
New Hampshire#23601 in 88
Indiana#244951 in 91
Kansas#241761 in 113
Mississippi#252401 in 121
Nebraska#251431 in 104
Arizona#26881 in 113
Maine#261041 in 90
Utah#26961 in 100
Washington#262241 in 121
Minnesota#273381 in 105
Oregon#271291 in 130
Wyoming#27261 in 115
Montana#29571 in 120
Iowa#302341 in 129
South Dakota#31581 in 139
Tennessee#312951 in 133
Texas#316151 in 169
Vermont#31371 in 103
Idaho#32471 in 146
North Dakota#34531 in 140
Arkansas#351321 in 169
Oklahoma#371281 in 186

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Joseph
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 3 spots since 2024 (#32 → #29)
  • 3 spots since 2020 (#26 → #29)
  • 8 spots since 2015 (#21 → #29)
  • Biggest jump: 3 spots in 1972 (#15 → #12)
  • Biggest drop: 5 spots in 2010 (#15 → #20)
Rise & fade · boys
37 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1917 at #5 (24,761 births)
  • Births halved by 2013, 96 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 70 yrs
  • Top 10: 70 yrs · run 1880–1935
  • Top 100: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 35
  • Highest: 1 in 35 boys born in 1914 were named Joseph (2.9%)
  • Latest: 1 in 234 boys born in 2025 (0.43%)
  • Its best rank, #5 in 1917, was only 1 in 37 (2.7%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 11.2% of all boys named Joseph (300,012) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s26,292#7 (1888)#7
1890s29,000#6 (1898)#6
1900s35,173#6 (1909)#7
1910s179,300#5 (1917)#6
1920s243,809#7 (1921)#8
1930s180,566#9 (1930)#10
1940s230,285#11 (1942)#13
1950s300,012#12 (1956)#13
1960s283,048#11 (1964)#13
1970s244,825#10 (1978)#12
1980s299,411#10 (1984)#11
1990s260,751#8 (1999)#11
2000s194,962#6 (2003)#10
2010s115,722#18 (2017)#21
2020s46,334#26 (2020)#29

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Joseph in 1950

girls
#1,153
64 births · 1 in 26,766 girls
boys
#13
27,022 births · 1 in 66 boys

Top girls' names in 1950

  1. #1Linda80,433
  2. #2Mary65,481
  3. #3Patricia47,944
  4. #4Barbara41,556
  5. #5Susan38,017
  6. #6Nancy29,617
  7. #7Deborah29,063
  8. #8Sandra28,896
  9. #9Carol26,163
  10. #10Kathleen25,706
  11. #1,153Joseph64

Top boys' names in 1950

  1. #1James86,228
  2. #2Robert83,553
  3. #3John79,412
  4. #4Michael65,136
  5. #5David60,729
  6. #6William60,680
  7. #7Richard51,003
  8. #8Thomas45,596
  9. #9Charles39,095
  10. #10Gary33,737
  11. #13Joseph27,022
More about 1950

girls

1,713,054 girls got a published name in 1950; 1 in 26,766 of them was named Joseph, which outranked 81.1% of the 6,109 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joseph
  1. #1,145Leatrice65
  2. #1,145Lina65
  3. #1,145Tena65
  4. #1,153Joseph64
  5. #1,153Adelaide64
  6. #1,153Andra64
  7. #1,153Bobbi64
  8. #1,161Aletha63
  9. #1,161Antionette63
  10. #1,161Christene63

Tied with 7 names at #1,153; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,242Mindy#2,013 → #771
  2. ↑ 649Geralyn#1,627 → #978
  3. ↑ 636Kyle#1,512 → #876
  4. ↑ 416Debrah#1,109 → #693
  5. ↑ 405Debbra#1,353 → #948
Fallers
  1. ↓ 241Luana#823 → #1,064
  2. ↓ 231Christene#930 → #1,161
  3. ↓ 216Pearline#785 → #1,001
  4. ↓ 210Ingrid#518 → #728
  5. ↓ 201Dayle#982 → #1,183

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,790,262 boys got a published name in 1950; 1 in 66 of them was named Joseph, which outranked 99.7% of the 4,196 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joseph
  1. #10Gary33,737
  2. #11Larry31,480
  3. #12Ronald29,908
  4. #13Joseph27,022
  5. #14Donald26,999
  6. #15Kenneth23,813
  7. #16Steven23,250
Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 744Ezzard#1,616 → #872
  2. ↑ 510Kelvin#1,085 → #575
  3. ↑ 447Nancy#1,297 → #850
  4. ↑ 420Samual#1,380 → #960
  5. ↑ 376Shaun#1,275 → #899
Fallers
  1. ↓ 371Sharon#885 → #1,256
  2. ↓ 369Melvyn#770 → #1,139
  3. ↓ 367Les#997 → #1,364
  4. ↓ 351Delmas#905 → #1,256
  5. ↓ 315Denzil#808 → #1,123

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1950 →