Declining since 2017, #3,450 for boys today.
Popularity of Josiyah since 2001
Babies named Josiyah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 112 |
| 2010s | 427 |
| 2020s | 229 |
Meaning & origin
Josiyah is a modern respelling of the ancient biblical name Josiah, first recorded in U.S. Social Security data in 2001. Its popularity peaked in 2017, but has been falling since, and in the most recent year, 2025, it ranked 3,450. The name is relatively rare, given to about 1 in every 51,760 boys. Its top state association is Florida, reflecting its emergence in diverse naming trends. As a contemporary variation, Josiyah fits a pattern of inventive spellings that retain the sound and spiritual resonance of the original Hebrew name while offering a distinct orthographic identity.
Josiyah appears to be a modern respelling or elaboration of Josiah, itself a Hebrew name (Yoshiyahu) meaning 'God supports' or 'God heals'. The name was borne by a king of Judah in the Old Testament. The -yah ending is common in Hebrew names and often signifies a shortened form of Yahweh. Josiyah emerged in the United States in the early 2000s as part of a trend of inventive spellings and is used almost exclusively for boys.
Where Josiyah is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Jos, Siyah
Sibling names for Josiyah
Names that share Josiyah's style, for a brother or sister.
