A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Josefa since 1881
Babies named Josefa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Josefa's real moment was 1890.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 88 |
| 1890s | 192 |
| 1900s | 230 |
| 1910s | 482 |
| 1920s | 726 |
| 1930s | 498 |
| 1940s | 372 |
| 1950s | 343 |
| 1960s | 278 |
| 1970s | 239 |
| 1980s | 197 |
| 1990s | 157 |
| 2000s | 103 |
| 2010s | 91 |
| 2020s | 66 |
Meaning & origin
Josefa is the Spanish feminine equivalent of Joseph, a name with deep Biblical roots meaning 'God will add'. In the United States, its usage peaked in the 1890s at rank 8362, when 1 in 133,939 baby girls were named Josefa. After a long period of decline, the name has been rising again since 2014, reflecting a broader trend of vintage and traditional names returning to favor. The decade of the 1890s saw its highest occurrence, though it has never been among the most common names. Josefa carries a strong cultural heritage, popular in Spain and Latin America, and remains a classic choice for families honoring their Hispanic roots.
Josefa is the Spanish feminine form of José, which derives from the Hebrew name Yosef (Joseph). The name Yosef comes from the Hebrew verb 'yasaf' meaning 'to add, to increase'. The name appears in the Old Testament as Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, and in the New Testament as the earthly father of Jesus. Josefa has been commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries since the Middle Ages, often bestowed in honor of Saint Joseph.
“Josefa” around the world
Where Josefa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pepa, Fefa, Chepa
Sibling names for Josefa
Names that share Josefa's style, for a brother or sister.
