Joseph
JOH-sef
A classic biblical name meaning “God will add” or “may he add.”
Meaning
Joseph comes from the Hebrew name Yosef, traditionally understood as “he will add” or “God will add,” from a root meaning to add/increase. In Christian naming tradition, it became widely used through the biblical Joseph, which helped spread the name across Europe in many forms.
Origin
Hebrewmasculine
Fun fact
The excerpts show a whole family of related forms, including Josefina, Josephina, Josepha, Josephe, and Josep, reflecting how widely the name spread across languages.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.