Joshua
MeaningGod is salvation · Hebrew
- US rank
- #66
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #3 in 2006
4,773 babies were named Joshua in the US in 2025. It has dropped 13 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Joshua you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Joshua
Joshua Bassett
American actor and singer-songwriter
Choose Joshua and your child shares a first name with Joshua Bassett, an American actor and singer-songwriter. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Joshua, like who?” Joshua Bassett's Wikipedia article is available in 87 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Joshua Bassett on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: NickRewind, CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 358 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Joshua, 4,773 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Joshua.
- HistoryJoshua has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Joshuas, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 2006, when it ranked #3. Today it's #66, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowJoshua was 5.0× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 71 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 358.
- Where it's lovedJoshua is most popular in Maryland, where it ranks #24, followed by Washington, D.C. (#25) and Delaware (#35). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Joshua means “God is salvation”. Our records link it to English and Hebrew roots.
About the name Joshua
Joshua is a boy name of English and Hebrew origin meaning “God is salvation”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with J and ending in “-hua”. US birth records list Joshua for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 2006, when it ranked #3 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #66, with 4,773 babies.
Origin:English namesHebrew names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 425 | 2,354 boys |
| 1890s | 250 | 3,999 boys |
| 1900s | 178 | 5,608 boys |
| 1910s | 150 | 6,653 boys |
| 1920s | 104 | 9,639 boys |
| 1930s | 90 | 11,111 boys |
| 1940s | 77 | 12,952 boys |
| 1950s | 109 | 9,185 boys |
| 1960s | 286 | 3,500 boys |
| 1970s | 8,581 | 117 boys |
| 1980s | 21,468 | 47 boys |
| 1990s | 16,840 | 59 boys |
| 2000s | 11,653 | 86 boys |
| 2010s | 5,630 | 178 boys |
| 2020s | 3,073 | 325 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Joshua
What does the name Joshua mean?
Joshua means “God is salvation” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Joshua?
Joshua has English, Hebrew roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Joshua a boy or girl name?
Joshua is a boy name.
How popular is the name Joshua?
Joshua ranked #66 for US boys in 2025, given to 4,773 babies. Its best year was 2006 (#3).