Josiah
Boy name · #54 in 2025 · Uniqueness 42/100
Josiah ranks #54 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 5,509 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #57, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 327 boys born in 2025 was named Josiah.
Babies named Josiah per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Josiah first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 26 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 7,079 boys were named Josiah — good for #51 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 Josiah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Josiah in class?
Josiah scores 42 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 Josiah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Josiah is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Josiahs were TX (800), CA (723), FL (452), GA (268), NY (217). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Josiah
Statistically, parents drawn to Josiah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Micah, and Jasiah.
IsaiahJeremiahJonahMicahJasiahJudahMessiahJulian
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Josiah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,509 | #54 |
| 2024 | 5,486 | #53 |
| 2023 | 5,445 | #52 |
| 2022 | 5,838 | #51 |
| 2021 | 6,157 | #49 |
| 2020 | 6,164 | #49 |
| 2019 | 6,847 | #45 |
| 2018 | 6,684 | #52 |
| 2017 | 7,079 | #51 |
| 2016 | 7,025 | #55 |
| 2015 | 6,677 | #57 |
| 2014 | 6,482 | #64 |
| 2013 | 6,316 | #69 |
| 2012 | 5,538 | #79 |
| 2011 | 5,274 | #80 |
| 2010 | 5,210 | #77 |
| 2009 | 5,020 | #86 |
| 2008 | 4,785 | #95 |
| 2007 | 4,225 | #105 |
| 2006 | 3,649 | #117 |
| 2005 | 3,260 | #125 |
| 2004 | 2,797 | #142 |
| 2003 | 2,684 | #152 |
| 2002 | 2,570 | #154 |
| 2001 | 2,239 | #169 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Josiah a popular boy name?
Josiah ranked #54 among boys in 2025 with 5,509 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #57.
When was the name Josiah most popular?
Josiah peaked in 2017, when 7,079 American boys received the name (ranked #51 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Josiah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 327 newborn American boys was named Josiah. It scores 42/100 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.