Joshua
Boy name · #66 in 2025 · Uniqueness 46/100
Joshua ranks #66 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 4,773 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #33, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 377 boys born in 2025 was named Joshua.
Babies named Joshua per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Joshua first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 57 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1989, when 44,100 boys were named Joshua — good for #4 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Joshua against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Joshua in class?
Joshua scores 46 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 Joshua is most common
Geography matters for names, and Joshua is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Joshuas were TX (596), CA (523), FL (365), NY (258), NC (188). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Joshua
Statistically, parents drawn to Joshua tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jonathan, Andrew, Aaron, Justin, and Jordan.
JonathanAndrewAaronJustinJordanRyanAnthonyJesse
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Joshua | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,773 | #66 |
| 2024 | 5,268 | #57 |
| 2023 | 5,070 | #60 |
| 2022 | 5,197 | #60 |
| 2021 | 5,531 | #58 |
| 2020 | 6,015 | #53 |
| 2019 | 6,631 | #48 |
| 2018 | 7,446 | #40 |
| 2017 | 8,353 | #38 |
| 2016 | 9,258 | #35 |
| 2015 | 9,850 | #33 |
| 2014 | 10,929 | #25 |
| 2013 | 11,861 | #21 |
| 2012 | 12,681 | #17 |
| 2011 | 13,797 | #14 |
| 2010 | 15,467 | #11 |
| 2009 | 17,671 | #6 |
| 2008 | 19,231 | #4 |
| 2007 | 20,669 | #4 |
| 2006 | 22,336 | #3 |
| 2005 | 23,261 | #3 |
| 2004 | 24,214 | #3 |
| 2003 | 25,106 | #3 |
| 2002 | 25,998 | #3 |
| 2001 | 26,024 | #4 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Joshua a popular boy name?
Joshua ranked #66 among boys in 2025 with 4,773 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #33.
When was the name Joshua most popular?
Joshua peaked in 1989, when 44,100 American boys received the name (ranked #4 that year). Since 1989 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Joshua?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 377 newborn American boys was named Joshua. It scores 46/100 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.