Jozeph

Meaning & origin

Jozeph is a modern respelling of the classic biblical name Joseph, first recorded in the United States in 1991. The name has never entered the top 1,000, reflecting its rarity: it is given to fewer than one in tens of thousands of boys in any given year. Its peak year came in 2011, though even then it remained a fringe choice. The trajectory of Jozeph is stable, meaning its usage has not changed dramatically over time. No states reported notable concentrations of the name. For parents seeking a familiar name with an unconventional spelling, Jozeph offers a way to honor tradition while asserting individuality. It fits well alongside other modern respellings and maintains the strong nickname options of Joe or Joey.

Jozeph is a less common spelling variant of Joseph. Joseph derives from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוֹסֵף), taken from the verb yasaf meaning 'to add' or 'to increase,' famously borne by the biblical patriarch Joseph. The Jozeph spelling likely emerged in the late 20th century as a creative respelling, possibly influenced by names like Jozef (the Polish and Slovak form). Records show sporadic use in the United States from 1991 onward, without consistent popularity.