Declining since 2007, #6,143 for boys today.
Popularity of Josaiah since 1996
Babies named Josaiah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 29 |
| 2000s | 162 |
| 2010s | 169 |
| 2020s | 83 |
Meaning & origin
Josaiah is a modern spelling variant of the biblical name Josiah, which has deep roots in Hebrew tradition. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1996 and reached its peak rank of 6,143 in 2008, with a usage rate of about 1 in 122,005 newborns that year. Since 2007, its popularity has been gradually declining. While Josaiah has not been as widely adopted as its source name Josiah, it reflects a trend toward distinctive spellings of classic names. The name is almost exclusively given to boys and has not shown strong regional preferences in the United States.
Josaiah is a modern variant of the biblical name Josiah, which is derived from the Hebrew Yoshiyahu, meaning 'Yahweh supports' or 'God heals.' The name Josiah appears in the Old Testament as a king of Judah known for his religious reforms. Josaiah gained modest usage in the United States from the late 1990s onward, likely as a phonetic or spelling variation of the more established Josiah.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Joe, Siah
Sibling names for Josaiah
Names that share Josaiah's style, for a brother or sister.
