Declining since 2005, #1,699 for boys today.
Popularity of Josh since 1880
Babies named Josh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 234 |
| 1890s | 209 |
| 1900s | 195 |
| 1910s | 395 |
| 1920s | 439 |
| 1930s | 348 |
| 1940s | 361 |
| 1950s | 596 |
| 1960s | 1,212 |
| 1970s | 4,011 |
| 1980s | 2,818 |
| 1990s | 1,827 |
| 2000s | 2,656 |
| 2010s | 1,419 |
| 2020s | 568 |
Meaning & origin
Josh is a classic short form of Joshua that enjoyed peak popularity in the 1970s. It first appeared in US records in 1880. By 1974 it had reached its highest rank nationally. However, since 2005 its usage has declined steadily; in 2025 it ranked 1699th, with approximately 1 in 17,792 boys receiving the name. Its strongest historical state associations are Massachusetts, Florida, and New Jersey. While less common today, Josh retains a familiar, friendly sound that appeals to parents seeking a straightforward, biblically rooted nickname for their sons.
Josh originated as a diminutive of Joshua, which comes from the Hebrew name Yehoshua. In the Hebrew Bible, Joshua was Moses' successor who led the Israelites into Canaan. The name gained widespread English usage after the Protestant Reformation. In the United States, Joshua and its short form Josh became highly popular in the 1970s and 1980s, peaking as a given name in 1974 when Josh alone was among the top 1000 names.
Where Josh is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Josh” around the world
Where Josh lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Ireland
25
babies in 2025
Quebec
21
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Sibling names for Josh
Names that share Josh's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Josh
Names whose popularity has moved with Josh's over the last 50 years.
