Joseph
Boy name · #29 in 2025 · Uniqueness 41/100
Joseph is currently the #29 boy name in the United States — 7,303 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #21, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 246 boys born in 2025 was named Joseph.
The 145-year story
Joseph first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 2,632 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1956, when 32,749 boys were named Joseph — good for #12 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Joseph per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Joseph against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Joseph in class?
Joseph scores 41 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Joseph is most common
Geography matters for names, and Joseph is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Josephs were CA (721), TX (669), NY (667), FL (462), PA (381). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Joseph
Statistically, parents drawn to Joseph tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Thomas, David, Michael, John, and Charles.
ThomasDavidMichaelJohnCharlesDanielMatthewWilliam
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Joseph | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,303 | #29 |
| 2024 | 7,261 | #32 |
| 2023 | 7,279 | #29 |
| 2022 | 7,839 | #30 |
| 2021 | 8,166 | #28 |
| 2020 | 8,486 | #26 |
| 2019 | 9,179 | #24 |
| 2018 | 9,682 | #23 |
| 2017 | 10,488 | #18 |
| 2016 | 10,969 | #20 |
| 2015 | 11,531 | #21 |
| 2014 | 12,155 | #20 |
| 2013 | 12,278 | #20 |
| 2012 | 12,594 | #19 |
| 2011 | 12,995 | #22 |
| 2010 | 13,851 | #20 |
| 2009 | 14,952 | #15 |
| 2008 | 16,599 | #13 |
| 2007 | 17,364 | #13 |
| 2006 | 18,471 | #11 |
| 2005 | 19,241 | #9 |
| 2004 | 20,147 | #9 |
| 2003 | 21,394 | #6 |
| 2002 | 21,920 | #7 |
| 2001 | 22,030 | #8 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Joseph a popular boy name?
Joseph ranked #29 among boys in 2025 with 7,303 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #21.
When was the name Joseph most popular?
Joseph peaked in 1956, when 32,749 American boys received the name (ranked #12 that year). Since 1956 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Joseph?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 246 newborn American boys was named Joseph. It scores 41/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.