Josephine

#53 for girls in 2025, 4,126 births · Last seen for boys in 2023 at #12,239
Given to girls 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1917 · 8,326 births
Debut · girls
544 births
In top 100 · girls
71 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
331,467
since 1880

Josephine over time

girls

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

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201912peak #21, 1917girls
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#534,126—
2024#563,765—
2023#643,371#12,2395
2022#703,266—
2021#723,391—
2020#873,057—
2019#903,123—
2018#913,050—
2017#1072,823—
2016#1142,797—
2015#1312,505—
2014#1472,286—
2013#1602,012—
2012#1601,957—
2011#1811,730—
2010#1851,677—
2009#2011,628—
2008#2081,635—
2007#2231,562—
2006#2211,548—
2005#2291,490—
2004#2421,337—
2003#2581,257—
2002#2641,198—
2001#2751,153—
2000#2871,116—
1999#312989—
1998#347840—
1997#353784—
1996#371725—
1995#375700—
1994#390648—
1993#418596—
1992#427591—
1991#421607—
1990#435579—
1989#459527#5,1659
1988#451503#7,2705
1987#497436—
1986#470456—
1985#485423—
1984#471437—
1983#438480—
1982#440491—
1981#451477—
1980#430502—
1979#462437—
1978#438457—
1977#451442—
1976#449431—
1975#433456#4,7976
1974#389536—
1973#383535—
1972#372580—
1971#381603—
1970#363677—
1969#338699—
1968#332693—
1967#319744—
1966#306838—
1965#309863#3,2447
1964#297962#2,8549
1963#2811,054#3,6466
1962#2691,103#4,0335
1961#2581,204#3,3567
1960#2631,157#3,3377
1959#2571,177—
1958#2391,274#3,9445
1957#2211,442—
1956#2101,485#2,7989
1955#1991,595#3,5056
1954#1861,719#3,1767
1953#1721,799#2,9058
1952#1691,862#3,3736
1951#1571,966#2,6629
1950#1462,093—
1949#1432,163—
1948#1342,230#3,0107
1947#1332,351—
1946#1272,228#3,1736
1945#1202,146#2,24210
1944#1152,324#1,98813
1943#1082,664#1,91015
1942#1002,748#1,73017
1941#922,726#1,53220
1940#892,744#2,08112
1939#842,837#1,42522
1938#832,978#1,36424
1937#822,942#1,31326
1936#773,141#1,32625
1935#753,262#1,39024
1934#603,742#1,55120
1933#623,569#1,54020
1932#574,095#1,11037
1931#514,497#1,12836
1930#494,988#1,23533
1929#455,298#1,41326
1928#425,671#1,32330
1927#396,108#1,29332
1926#376,410#1,84618
1925#366,810#1,49325
1924#347,274#1,96417
1923#307,560#2,12315
1922#277,864#1,59123
1921#288,135#1,70321
1920#288,093#2,23114
1919#268,104#1,69520
1918#248,682#1,37327
1917#218,326#1,75518
1916#218,127#1,94915
1915#227,606#1,78216
1914#235,896#1,49217
1913#244,822#1,49713
1912#283,980#1,61910
1911#293,011#89614
1910#302,801#1,1938
1909#312,416#89311
1908#282,389#1,0218
1907#332,156#9998
1906#381,900#9278
1905#371,894#1,0027
1904#401,701—
1903#401,587#65612
1902#421,565#9337
1901#431,434#7798
1900#471,743#1,1626
1899#441,388#9286
1898#461,425—
1897#471,267#8527
1896#501,256#9007
1895#471,334—
1894#481,256—
1893#501,178—
1892#491,210#9566
1891#491,031#9635
1890#491,118#8846
1889#491,047#8786
1888#491,001#1,0315
1887#50815—
1886#47844—
1885#47783#8366
1884#45800—
1883#46697—
1882#49638—
1881#48563—
1880#50544—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Josephine was already there! It came in at #50, and was given to 544 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1971–1993, when fewer than 610 girls a year got the name.

Where Josephine is popular in 1912

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedAKMaine: #40 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 137 girlsMEVermont: #53 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 164 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #29 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 103 girlsNHWashington: #41 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 142 girlsWAIdaho: #58 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 163 girlsIDMontana: #40 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 122 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #88 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 319 girlsNDMinnesota: #62 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 240 girlsMNIllinois: #18 for girls · 313 births · 1 in 90 girlsILWisconsin: #39 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 150 girlsWIMichigan: #35 for girls · 110 births · 1 in 119 girlsMINew York: #15 for girls · 676 births · 1 in 73 girlsNYMassachusetts: #20 for girls · 211 births · 1 in 84 girlsMARhode Island: #19 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 85 girlsRIOregon: #66 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 217 girlsORNevada: #2 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 6 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #76 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 273 girlsSDIowa: #64 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 259 girlsIAIndiana: #31 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 131 girlsINOhio: #35 for girls · 169 births · 1 in 136 girlsOHPennsylvania: #16 for girls · 513 births · 1 in 89 girlsPANew Jersey: #17 for girls · 171 births · 1 in 81 girlsNJConnecticut: #14 for girls · 103 births · 1 in 55 girlsCTCalifornia: #15 for girls · 107 births · 1 in 92 girlsCAUtah: #30 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 113 girlsUTColorado: #20 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 86 girlsCONebraska: #50 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 175 girlsNEMissouri: #42 for girls · 89 births · 1 in 171 girlsMOKentucky: #86 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 332 girlsKYWest Virginia: #54 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 210 girlsWVVirginia: #55 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 179 girlsVAMaryland: #36 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 141 girlsMDDelaware: #31 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 109 girlsDEArizona: #6 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 49 girlsAZNew Mexico: #7 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 49 girlsNMKansas: #35 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 129 girlsKSArkansas: #61 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 211 girlsARTennessee: #72 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 261 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #73 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 230 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #66 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 206 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #43 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 159 girlsDCOklahoma: #69 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 252 girlsOKLouisiana: #17 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 102 girlsLAMississippi: #69 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 234 girlsMSAlabama: #90 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 304 girlsALGeorgia: #96 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 354 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedHITexas: #50 for girls · 130 births · 1 in 203 girlsTXFlorida: #44 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 159 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Nevada#2 · 1 in 6
  2. Arizona#6 · 1 in 49
  3. New Mexico#7 · 1 in 49
  4. Connecticut#14 · 1 in 55
  5. New York#15 · 1 in 73

Best ever in a state: #2 in Nevada, 1912.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nevada#271 in 6
Arizona#6191 in 49
New Mexico#7321 in 49
Connecticut#141031 in 55
California#151071 in 92
New York#156761 in 73
Pennsylvania#165131 in 89
Louisiana#171171 in 102
New Jersey#171711 in 81
Illinois#183131 in 90
Rhode Island#19291 in 85
Colorado#20381 in 86
Massachusetts#202111 in 84
New Hampshire#29141 in 103
Utah#30161 in 113
Delaware#3171 in 109
Indiana#31871 in 131
Kansas#35561 in 129
Michigan#351101 in 119
Ohio#351691 in 136
Maryland#36471 in 141
Wisconsin#39681 in 150
Maine#40221 in 137
Montana#40131 in 122
Washington#41291 in 142
Missouri#42891 in 171
District of Columbia#4381 in 159
Florida#44341 in 159
Nebraska#50321 in 175
Texas#501301 in 203
Vermont#5381 in 164
West Virginia#54381 in 210
Virginia#55791 in 179
Idaho#5881 in 163
Arkansas#61451 in 211
Minnesota#62381 in 240
Iowa#64351 in 259
Oregon#66111 in 217
South Carolina#66571 in 206
Mississippi#69521 in 234
Oklahoma#69401 in 252
Tennessee#72511 in 261
North Carolina#73741 in 230
South Dakota#76101 in 273
Kentucky#86411 in 332
North Dakota#88101 in 319
Alabama#90521 in 304
Georgia#96561 in 354
Alaska———
Hawaii———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls 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 Josephine
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 3 spots since 2024 (#56 → #53)
  • 34 spots since 2020 (#87 → #53)
  • 78 spots since 2015 (#131 → #53)
  • Biggest jump: 46 spots in 1988 (#497 → #451)
  • Biggest drop: 44 spots in 1975 (#389 → #433)
Rise & fade · girls
37 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1917 at #21 (8,326 births)
  • Births halved by 1932, 15 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 71 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 71 yrs · run 1880–1942
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 129
  • Highest: 1 in 129 girls born in 1916 were named Josephine (0.78%)
  • Latest: 1 in 390 girls born in 2025 (0.26%)
  • Its best rank, #21 in 1917, was only 1 in 130 (0.77%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 20.9% of all girls named Josephine (69,223) were born in this decade
  • Comeback: #21 (1917) → #497 (1987) → #53 (2025)
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s7,732#45 (1884)#48
1890s12,463#44 (1899)#48
1900s18,785#28 (1908)#38
1910s61,355#21 (1917)#25
1920s69,223#27 (1922)#35
1930s36,051#49 (1930)#68
1940s24,324#89 (1940)#116
1950s16,412#146 (1950)#196
1960s9,317#258 (1961)#297
1970s5,154#363 (1970)#412
1980s4,732#430 (1980)#459
1990s7,059#312 (1999)#385
2000s13,924#201 (2009)#241
2010s23,960#90 (2019)#137
2020s20,976#53 (2025)#67

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

Josephine in 1912

girls
#28
3,980 births · 1 in 140 girls
boys
#1,619
10 births · 1 in 42,994 boys

Top girls' names in 1912

  1. #1Mary32,304
  2. #2Helen16,133
  3. #3Dorothy12,645
  4. #4Margaret12,536
  5. #5Ruth11,280
  6. #6Mildred8,764
  7. #7Anna8,586
  8. #8Elizabeth8,527
  9. #9Frances6,680
  10. #10Marie6,642
  11. #28Josephine3,980

Top boys' names in 1912

  1. #1John24,588
  2. #2William19,626
  3. #3James17,644
  4. #4Robert12,836
  5. #5Joseph12,062
  6. #6George11,734
  7. #7Charles11,070
  8. #8Edward7,936
  9. #9Frank7,912
  10. #10Thomas6,087
  11. #1,619Josephine10
More about 1912

girls

558,119 girls got a published name in 1912; 1 in 140 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 99.2% of the 3,445 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Josephine
  1. #25Hazel4,197
  2. #26Thelma4,183
  3. #27Annie4,083
  4. #28Josephine3,980
  5. #29Martha3,911
  6. #30Gertrude3,887
  7. #31Edith3,842
Biggest movers since 1911
Risers
  1. ↑ 712Jule#1,545 → #833
  2. ↑ 626Beula#1,545 → #919
  3. ↑ 602Noma#1,372 → #770
  4. ↑ 577Walter#1,372 → #795
  5. ↑ 490Izora#1,450 → #960
Fallers
  1. ↓ 912Mabell#932 → #1,844
  2. ↓ 602Justina#875 → #1,477
  3. ↓ 579Irine#898 → #1,477
  4. ↓ 579Sula#898 → #1,477
  5. ↓ 568Cordia#853 → #1,421

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

boys

429,942 boys got a published name in 1912; 1 in 42,994 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 44.3% of the 2,905 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Josephine
  1. #1,527Wilhelm11
  2. #1,527Zebedee11
  3. #1,527Zollie11
  4. #1,619Josephine10
  5. #1,619Adan10
  6. #1,619Adrain10
  7. #1,619Adrien10
  8. #1,746Agapito9
  9. #1,746Agostino9
  10. #1,746Albertus9

Tied with 126 names at #1,619; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1911
Risers
  1. ↑ 864Arlo#1,740 → #876
  2. ↑ 848Guss#1,740 → #892
  3. ↑ 805Courtney#1,740 → #935
  4. ↑ 805Erling#1,740 → #935
  5. ↑ 805Masao#1,740 → #935
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,688Rosendo#856 → #2,544
  2. ↓ 1,063Metro#982 → #2,045
  3. ↓ 1,057Lawyer#689 → #1,746
  4. ↓ 903Hymen#982 → #1,885
  5. ↓ 903Mathias#982 → #1,885

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

See the top 100 for 1912 →