Rising since 1985, #744 for boys today.
Popularity of Yousef since 1970
Babies named Yousef per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 50 |
| 1980s | 326 |
| 1990s | 681 |
| 2000s | 1,482 |
| 2010s | 2,713 |
| 2020s | 1,751 |
Meaning & origin
Yousef, the Arabic form of Joseph, has been climbing the U.S. baby name charts since the mid-1980s, reflecting broader demographic shifts and the growing visibility of Muslim communities. In 2025, it reached its peak rank at 744, with about 1 in every 4,894 newborn boys receiving the name. The name is most popular in Michigan, Illinois, and New Jersey, states with significant Arab-American populations. Its steady upward trajectory over four decades points to Yousef as a name that blends deep religious heritage with modern cross-cultural appeal.
Yousef is the Arabic form of Joseph, derived from the Hebrew Yosef. The name is borne by the prophet Yusuf in the Quran, making it deeply significant across the Muslim world. It has been widely used in Arabic-speaking and other Islamic cultures for centuries, and its popularity in the United States has grown steadily since the late 20th century.
Where Yousef is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yousef” around the world
Where Yousef lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yus, Yoyo, Seef
Sibling names for Yousef
Names that share Yousef's style, for a brother or sister.
