Rising since 1997, #2,363 for boys today.
Popularity of Yossi since 1990
Babies named Yossi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 17 |
| 2000s | 77 |
| 2010s | 227 |
| 2020s | 263 |
Meaning & origin
Yossi is a Hebrew diminutive of Joseph, meaning 'God will add.' Since first recorded in U.S. data in 1990, it has grown steadily in usage, with a peak in popularity in 2025 (rank 2363). The name's trajectory shows consistent rise since 1997, reflecting broader interest in Hebrew names. Its strongest association is with New York (top state), home to a large Jewish population. While still relatively rare (1 in 29450 births), Yossi offers a familiar yet distinctive alternative to Joseph, carrying deep cultural and religious resonance.
Yossi is a Hebrew diminutive of Yosef (Joseph), which derives from the Hebrew root y-s-f, meaning 'to add' or 'to increase.' In the Bible, Joseph is the 11th son of Jacob and a central figure in the Book of Genesis. Yossi is a common nickname in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide, often used as a given name in its own right.
Where Yossi is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yossi” around the world
Where Yossi lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yos
Variants: Yosi, Yossef
Sibling names for Yossi
Names that share Yossi's style, for a brother or sister.
