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At a Glance
- Meaning
- May he (God) add — inherited from Joseph
- Origin
- French (feminine diminutive of Joseph, ultimately Hebrew)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- JOH-zeh-feen
Josephine is the French feminine form of Joseph, tracing back to Hebrew, and carries the same inherited meaning: "may he add." It's pronounced JOH-zeh-feen, and on the style side it lands as romantic, storybook and vintage with a timeless, classic feel. If you're drawn to names with a classic, old-world shape rather than a modern one, Josephine fits that lane.
Meaning & Origin of Josephine
Meaning: May he (God) add — inherited from Joseph.
Origin: French (feminine diminutive of Joseph, ultimately Hebrew).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Josephine
JOH-zeh-feenIPA /ˈdʒoʊzəfiːn/
Popularity of Josephine
Josephine peaked at #21 in 1916, when 8,127 baby girls were given the name, and has settled at #56 in 2024 with 3,746 — still a well-used classic, just further from its early-1900s high point, based on Social Security data spanning 1880-2024.
Names Like Josephine
These names share Josephine’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Josephine mean?
May he (God) add — inherited from Joseph. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Josephine?
Josephine is pronounced JOH-zeh-feen (IPA: /ˈdʒoʊzəfiːn/).
Is Josephine a popular name right now?
Josephine peaked at #21 in 1916 and is ranked #56 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Josephine Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Josephine, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Josephine? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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