Rising since 1987, #1,753 for boys today.
Popularity of Yehoshua since 1970
Babies named Yehoshua per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2019, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Yehoshua's real moment was 2025.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 88 |
| 1980s | 190 |
| 1990s | 333 |
| 2000s | 571 |
| 2010s | 778 |
| 2020s | 482 |
Meaning & origin
Yehoshua represents a direct link to the Hebrew Bible, being the original form of Joshua and the root of the name Jesus. After being first recorded in U.S. Social Security data in 1970, the name began a notable upward trend starting in 1987, reflecting a broader interest among Jewish families in traditional Hebrew names. As of 2025, it ranks 1753 nationally with an incidence of roughly 1 in 18,566 births, and the name achieved its highest rank yet that same year. Its greatest popularity is concentrated in New Jersey and New York, states with large Jewish populations. Unlike the more Anglicized Joshua, Yehoshua retains a strong cultural identity while still feeling accessible through familiar nicknames like Josh.
Yehoshua is the original Hebrew form of Joshua, derived from the Hebrew root yasha ('to save') combined with Yeho- (a theophoric element referring to YHWH). The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as the successor of Moses who led the Israelites into Canaan. It was borne by the high priest Joshua in the post-exilic period and is the Hebrew name of Jesus (Yeshua being a later Aramaic contraction). Yehoshua has been used among Jewish communities continuously for millennia and has seen renewed use in the United States since the late 20th century.
Where Yehoshua is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Josh, Shua, Yoshi
Sibling names for Yehoshua
Names that share Yehoshua's style, for a brother or sister.
