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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201916peak #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 1916

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedAKMaine: #44 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 173 girlsMEVermont: #32 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 104 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #55 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 176 girlsNHWashington: #45 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 155 girlsWAIdaho: #78 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 240 girlsIDMontana: #26 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 111 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #64 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 214 girlsNDMinnesota: #48 for girls · 129 births · 1 in 168 girlsMNIllinois: #20 for girls · 626 births · 1 in 93 girlsILWisconsin: #43 for girls · 140 births · 1 in 168 girlsWIMichigan: #19 for girls · 320 births · 1 in 101 girlsMINew York: #11 for girls · 1,498 births · 1 in 63 girlsNYMassachusetts: #21 for girls · 402 births · 1 in 83 girlsMARhode Island: #15 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 69 girlsRIOregon: #50 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 180 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedNVWyoming: #17 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 78 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #57 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 195 girlsSDIowa: #53 for girls · 100 births · 1 in 207 girlsIAIndiana: #37 for girls · 146 births · 1 in 162 girlsINOhio: #29 for girls · 377 births · 1 in 127 girlsOHPennsylvania: #14 for girls · 1,040 births · 1 in 86 girlsPANew Jersey: #13 for girls · 446 births · 1 in 64 girlsNJConnecticut: #9 for girls · 250 births · 1 in 52 girlsCTCalifornia: #16 for girls · 217 births · 1 in 90 girlsCAUtah: #50 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 186 girlsUTColorado: #20 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 98 girlsCONebraska: #36 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 144 girlsNEMissouri: #37 for girls · 164 births · 1 in 176 girlsMOKentucky: #78 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 312 girlsKYWest Virginia: #36 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 175 girlsWVVirginia: #57 for girls · 115 births · 1 in 211 girlsVAMaryland: #38 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 156 girlsMDDelaware: #22 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 81 girlsDEArizona: #11 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 68 girlsAZNew Mexico: #6 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 60 girlsNMKansas: #32 for girls · 111 births · 1 in 133 girlsKSArkansas: #80 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 304 girlsARTennessee: #81 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 335 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #76 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 261 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #70 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 237 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #33 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 128 girlsDCOklahoma: #61 for girls · 76 births · 1 in 241 girlsOKLouisiana: #20 for girls · 150 births · 1 in 118 girlsLAMississippi: #44 for girls · 102 births · 1 in 177 girlsMSAlabama: #84 for girls · 86 births · 1 in 301 girlsALGeorgia: #78 for girls · 112 births · 1 in 280 girlsGAHawaii: #84 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 284 girlsHITexas: #42 for girls · 228 births · 1 in 198 girlsTXFlorida: #43 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 158 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. New Mexico#6 · 1 in 60
  2. Connecticut#9 · 1 in 52
  3. New York#11 · 1 in 63
  4. Arizona#11 · 1 in 68
  5. New Jersey#13 · 1 in 64

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Mexico#6501 in 60
Connecticut#92501 in 52
Arizona#11351 in 68
New York#111,4981 in 63
New Jersey#134461 in 64
Pennsylvania#141,0401 in 86
Rhode Island#15721 in 69
California#162171 in 90
Wyoming#17141 in 78
Michigan#193201 in 101
Colorado#20691 in 98
Illinois#206261 in 93
Louisiana#201501 in 118
Massachusetts#214021 in 83
Delaware#22201 in 81
Montana#26461 in 111
Ohio#293771 in 127
Kansas#321111 in 133
Vermont#32231 in 104
District of Columbia#33181 in 128
Nebraska#36781 in 144
West Virginia#36871 in 175
Indiana#371461 in 162
Missouri#371641 in 176
Maryland#38771 in 156
Texas#422281 in 198
Florida#43551 in 158
Wisconsin#431401 in 168
Maine#44331 in 173
Mississippi#441021 in 177
Washington#45541 in 155
Minnesota#481291 in 168
Oregon#50271 in 180
Utah#50241 in 186
Iowa#531001 in 207
New Hampshire#55171 in 176
South Dakota#57301 in 195
Virginia#571151 in 211
Oklahoma#61761 in 241
North Dakota#64351 in 214
South Carolina#70811 in 237
North Carolina#761171 in 261
Georgia#781121 in 280
Idaho#78151 in 240
Kentucky#78771 in 312
Arkansas#80541 in 304
Tennessee#81691 in 335
Alabama#84861 in 301
Hawaii#8481 in 284
Alaska———
Nevada———

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 1916

girls
#21
8,127 births · 1 in 129 girls
boys
#1,949
15 births · 1 in 59,339 boys

Top girls' names in 1916

  1. #1Mary61,438
  2. #2Helen32,661
  3. #3Dorothy27,418
  4. #4Margaret24,953
  5. #5Ruth23,189
  6. #6Mildred15,633
  7. #7Anna15,228
  8. #8Elizabeth14,940
  9. #9Frances13,746
  10. #10Virginia12,487
  11. #21Josephine8,127

Top boys' names in 1916

  1. #1John50,043
  2. #2William40,418
  3. #3James35,569
  4. #4Robert31,741
  5. #5Joseph23,883
  6. #6Charles23,612
  7. #7George23,381
  8. #8Edward17,005
  9. #9Frank15,291
  10. #10Thomas11,998
  11. #1,949Josephine15
More about 1916

girls

1,044,334 girls got a published name in 1916; 1 in 129 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 99.6% of the 5,161 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Josephine
  1. #18Louise8,630
  2. #19Edna8,625
  3. #20Catherine8,469
  4. #21Josephine8,127
  5. #22Gladys8,019
  6. #23Ruby7,686
  7. #24Martha7,610
Biggest movers since 1915
Risers
  1. ↑ 567Trinidad#1,317 → #750
  2. ↑ 388Coral#1,367 → #979
  3. ↑ 377Coletta#1,317 → #940
  4. ↑ 370Clifford#1,285 → #915
  5. ↑ 327Maida#1,231 → #904
Fallers
  1. ↓ 364Louis#934 → #1,298
  2. ↓ 354Herminia#944 → #1,298
  3. ↓ 346Gertha#900 → #1,246
  4. ↓ 344Lahoma#934 → #1,278
  5. ↓ 310Hassie#900 → #1,210

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

boys

890,080 boys got a published name in 1916; 1 in 59,339 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 57.0% of the 4,535 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Josephine
  1. #1,849Welby16
  2. #1,849Wray16
  3. #1,849Zygmund16
  4. #1,949Josephine15
  5. #1,949Aden15
  6. #1,949Aime15
  7. #1,949Albertus15
  8. #2,043Acy14
  9. #2,043Adron14
  10. #2,043Alwyn14

Tied with 93 names at #1,949; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1915
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,568Tatsuo#3,392 → #824
  2. ↑ 1,088Hughes#1,878 → #790
  3. ↑ 410Angel#1,181 → #771
  4. ↑ 378Trinidad#1,181 → #803
  5. ↑ 354Rolla#1,306 → #952
Fallers
  1. ↓ 500Nicolas#804 → #1,304
  2. ↓ 468Collins#906 → #1,374
  3. ↓ 463Hilliard#952 → #1,415
  4. ↓ 383Arvo#952 → #1,335
  5. ↓ 363Rayford#941 → #1,304

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

See the top 100 for 1916 →