Holding steady.
Popularity of Joshia since 1981
Babies named Joshia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 49 |
| 1990s | 21 |
| 2000s | 59 |
| 2010s | 37 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Joshia is a rare modern coinage first recorded in the United States in 1981. It has never cracked the top 1,000, staying consistently uncommon through the 2000s and 2010s. Its peak year was 2009, when it saw its highest number of births, but the name remains a fringe choice. As a respelling of the biblical Josiah or Joshua, it carries a familiar sound with a distinct spelling. With no strong ties to a particular culture or tradition, Joshia appeals to parents seeking a unique variation of classic names. Its trajectory has been stable, never experiencing a dramatic surge or decline. Given its low usage, any statistical one-in-N value is not meaningful, and no top states stand out for the name.
Joshia is a rare modern variant of Josiah or Joshua, names of Hebrew origin. Josiah derives from the Hebrew Yoshiyahu ("Yahweh supports") and is a biblical king. Joshua comes from Yehoshua ("Yahweh is salvation"), borne by the biblical successor to Moses. Joshia likely emerged in the late 20th century as a creative respelling, gaining modest use in the United States starting in the 1980s but remaining uncommon.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Josh, Jojo
Sibling names for Joshia
Names that share Joshia's style, for a brother or sister.
