Josephine
#53 for girls in 2025, 4,126 births · Last seen for boys in 2023 at #12,239
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1917 · 8,326 births
- Debut · girls
- 544 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 71 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 331,467since 1880
Josephine over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #53 | 4,126 | — | |
| 2024 | #56 | 3,765 | — | |
| 2023 | #64 | 3,371 | #12,239 | 5 |
| 2022 | #70 | 3,266 | — | |
| 2021 | #72 | 3,391 | — | |
| 2020 | #87 | 3,057 | — | |
| 2019 | #90 | 3,123 | — | |
| 2018 | #91 | 3,050 | — | |
| 2017 | #107 | 2,823 | — | |
| 2016 | #114 | 2,797 | — | |
| 2015 | #131 | 2,505 | — | |
| 2014 | #147 | 2,286 | — | |
| 2013 | #160 | 2,012 | — | |
| 2012 | #160 | 1,957 | — | |
| 2011 | #181 | 1,730 | — | |
| 2010 | #185 | 1,677 | — | |
| 2009 | #201 | 1,628 | — | |
| 2008 | #208 | 1,635 | — | |
| 2007 | #223 | 1,562 | — | |
| 2006 | #221 | 1,548 | — | |
| 2005 | #229 | 1,490 | — | |
| 2004 | #242 | 1,337 | — | |
| 2003 | #258 | 1,257 | — | |
| 2002 | #264 | 1,198 | — | |
| 2001 | #275 | 1,153 | — | |
| 2000 | #287 | 1,116 | — | |
| 1999 | #312 | 989 | — | |
| 1998 | #347 | 840 | — | |
| 1997 | #353 | 784 | — | |
| 1996 | #371 | 725 | — | |
| 1995 | #375 | 700 | — | |
| 1994 | #390 | 648 | — | |
| 1993 | #418 | 596 | — | |
| 1992 | #427 | 591 | — | |
| 1991 | #421 | 607 | — | |
| 1990 | #435 | 579 | — | |
| 1989 | #459 | 527 | #5,165 | 9 |
| 1988 | #451 | 503 | #7,270 | 5 |
| 1987 | #497 | 436 | — | |
| 1986 | #470 | 456 | — | |
| 1985 | #485 | 423 | — | |
| 1984 | #471 | 437 | — | |
| 1983 | #438 | 480 | — | |
| 1982 | #440 | 491 | — | |
| 1981 | #451 | 477 | — | |
| 1980 | #430 | 502 | — | |
| 1979 | #462 | 437 | — | |
| 1978 | #438 | 457 | — | |
| 1977 | #451 | 442 | — | |
| 1976 | #449 | 431 | — | |
| 1975 | #433 | 456 | #4,797 | 6 |
| 1974 | #389 | 536 | — | |
| 1973 | #383 | 535 | — | |
| 1972 | #372 | 580 | — | |
| 1971 | #381 | 603 | — | |
| 1970 | #363 | 677 | — | |
| 1969 | #338 | 699 | — | |
| 1968 | #332 | 693 | — | |
| 1967 | #319 | 744 | — | |
| 1966 | #306 | 838 | — | |
| 1965 | #309 | 863 | #3,244 | 7 |
| 1964 | #297 | 962 | #2,854 | 9 |
| 1963 | #281 | 1,054 | #3,646 | 6 |
| 1962 | #269 | 1,103 | #4,033 | 5 |
| 1961 | #258 | 1,204 | #3,356 | 7 |
| 1960 | #263 | 1,157 | #3,337 | 7 |
| 1959 | #257 | 1,177 | — | |
| 1958 | #239 | 1,274 | #3,944 | 5 |
| 1957 | #221 | 1,442 | — | |
| 1956 | #210 | 1,485 | #2,798 | 9 |
| 1955 | #199 | 1,595 | #3,505 | 6 |
| 1954 | #186 | 1,719 | #3,176 | 7 |
| 1953 | #172 | 1,799 | #2,905 | 8 |
| 1952 | #169 | 1,862 | #3,373 | 6 |
| 1951 | #157 | 1,966 | #2,662 | 9 |
| 1950 | #146 | 2,093 | — | |
| 1949 | #143 | 2,163 | — | |
| 1948 | #134 | 2,230 | #3,010 | 7 |
| 1947 | #133 | 2,351 | — | |
| 1946 | #127 | 2,228 | #3,173 | 6 |
| 1945 | #120 | 2,146 | #2,242 | 10 |
| 1944 | #115 | 2,324 | #1,988 | 13 |
| 1943 | #108 | 2,664 | #1,910 | 15 |
| 1942 | #100 | 2,748 | #1,730 | 17 |
| 1941 | #92 | 2,726 | #1,532 | 20 |
| 1940 | #89 | 2,744 | #2,081 | 12 |
| 1939 | #84 | 2,837 | #1,425 | 22 |
| 1938 | #83 | 2,978 | #1,364 | 24 |
| 1937 | #82 | 2,942 | #1,313 | 26 |
| 1936 | #77 | 3,141 | #1,326 | 25 |
| 1935 | #75 | 3,262 | #1,390 | 24 |
| 1934 | #60 | 3,742 | #1,551 | 20 |
| 1933 | #62 | 3,569 | #1,540 | 20 |
| 1932 | #57 | 4,095 | #1,110 | 37 |
| 1931 | #51 | 4,497 | #1,128 | 36 |
| 1930 | #49 | 4,988 | #1,235 | 33 |
| 1929 | #45 | 5,298 | #1,413 | 26 |
| 1928 | #42 | 5,671 | #1,323 | 30 |
| 1927 | #39 | 6,108 | #1,293 | 32 |
| 1926 | #37 | 6,410 | #1,846 | 18 |
| 1925 | #36 | 6,810 | #1,493 | 25 |
| 1924 | #34 | 7,274 | #1,964 | 17 |
| 1923 | #30 | 7,560 | #2,123 | 15 |
| 1922 | #27 | 7,864 | #1,591 | 23 |
| 1921 | #28 | 8,135 | #1,703 | 21 |
| 1920 | #28 | 8,093 | #2,231 | 14 |
| 1919 | #26 | 8,104 | #1,695 | 20 |
| 1918 | #24 | 8,682 | #1,373 | 27 |
| 1917 | #21 | 8,326 | #1,755 | 18 |
| 1916 | #21 | 8,127 | #1,949 | 15 |
| 1915 | #22 | 7,606 | #1,782 | 16 |
| 1914 | #23 | 5,896 | #1,492 | 17 |
| 1913 | #24 | 4,822 | #1,497 | 13 |
| 1912 | #28 | 3,980 | #1,619 | 10 |
| 1911 | #29 | 3,011 | #896 | 14 |
| 1910 | #30 | 2,801 | #1,193 | 8 |
| 1909 | #31 | 2,416 | #893 | 11 |
| 1908 | #28 | 2,389 | #1,021 | 8 |
| 1907 | #33 | 2,156 | #999 | 8 |
| 1906 | #38 | 1,900 | #927 | 8 |
| 1905 | #37 | 1,894 | #1,002 | 7 |
| 1904 | #40 | 1,701 | — | |
| 1903 | #40 | 1,587 | #656 | 12 |
| 1902 | #42 | 1,565 | #933 | 7 |
| 1901 | #43 | 1,434 | #779 | 8 |
| 1900 | #47 | 1,743 | #1,162 | 6 |
| 1899 | #44 | 1,388 | #928 | 6 |
| 1898 | #46 | 1,425 | — | |
| 1897 | #47 | 1,267 | #852 | 7 |
| 1896 | #50 | 1,256 | #900 | 7 |
| 1895 | #47 | 1,334 | — | |
| 1894 | #48 | 1,256 | — | |
| 1893 | #50 | 1,178 | — | |
| 1892 | #49 | 1,210 | #956 | 6 |
| 1891 | #49 | 1,031 | #963 | 5 |
| 1890 | #49 | 1,118 | #884 | 6 |
| 1889 | #49 | 1,047 | #878 | 6 |
| 1888 | #49 | 1,001 | #1,031 | 5 |
| 1887 | #50 | 815 | — | |
| 1886 | #47 | 844 | — | |
| 1885 | #47 | 783 | #836 | 6 |
| 1884 | #45 | 800 | — | |
| 1883 | #46 | 697 | — | |
| 1882 | #49 | 638 | — | |
| 1881 | #48 | 563 | — | |
| 1880 | #50 | 544 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Josephine was already there! It came in at #50, and was given to 544 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1971–1993, when fewer than 610 girls a year got the name.
Where Josephine is popular in 1939
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Alaska#15 · 1 in 40
- Arizona#30 · 1 in 144
- New Mexico#34 · 1 in 163
- Hawaii#47 · 1 in 172
- New Jersey#48 · 1 in 182
Best ever in a state: #2 in Nevada, 1912.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #15 | 7 | 1 in 40 |
| Arizona | #30 | 32 | 1 in 144 |
| New Mexico | #34 | 34 | 1 in 163 |
| Hawaii | #47 | 19 | 1 in 172 |
| New Jersey | #48 | 137 | 1 in 182 |
| New York | #49 | 477 | 1 in 179 |
| Connecticut | #56 | 48 | 1 in 205 |
| Delaware | #60 | 7 | 1 in 221 |
| South Carolina | #63 | 82 | 1 in 258 |
| Colorado | #69 | 34 | 1 in 259 |
| Pennsylvania | #71 | 251 | 1 in 288 |
| North Carolina | #76 | 110 | 1 in 335 |
| California | #82 | 129 | 1 in 354 |
| Massachusetts | #82 | 83 | 1 in 340 |
| Georgia | #84 | 90 | 1 in 346 |
| Louisiana | #86 | 70 | 1 in 323 |
| Florida | #88 | 40 | 1 in 345 |
| Maryland | #88 | 34 | 1 in 354 |
| Texas | #89 | 135 | 1 in 422 |
| Michigan | #92 | 96 | 1 in 432 |
| Illinois | #93 | 135 | 1 in 398 |
| South Dakota | #93 | 12 | 1 in 393 |
| Virginia | #93 | 62 | 1 in 384 |
| Alabama | #94 | 77 | 1 in 368 |
| Rhode Island | #95 | 10 | 1 in 422 |
| Kansas | #98 | 26 | 1 in 473 |
| Wisconsin | #98 | 43 | 1 in 547 |
| Tennessee | #99 | 62 | 1 in 438 |
| West Virginia | #103 | 40 | 1 in 469 |
| New Hampshire | #106 | 7 | 1 in 434 |
| Utah | #107 | 11 | 1 in 433 |
| District of Columbia | #111 | 11 | 1 in 509 |
| Ohio | #112 | 89 | 1 in 566 |
| Missouri | #113 | 49 | 1 in 547 |
| Montana | #115 | 9 | 1 in 461 |
| Vermont | #115 | 5 | 1 in 472 |
| Mississippi | #118 | 50 | 1 in 441 |
| Indiana | #119 | 37 | 1 in 686 |
| North Dakota | #121 | 11 | 1 in 471 |
| Kentucky | #124 | 47 | 1 in 587 |
| Arkansas | #133 | 31 | 1 in 587 |
| Oregon | #150 | 7 | 1 in 939 |
| Idaho | #155 | 6 | 1 in 683 |
| Iowa | #155 | 19 | 1 in 1,004 |
| Nebraska | #155 | 10 | 1 in 907 |
| Oklahoma | #168 | 24 | 1 in 834 |
| Maine | #172 | 6 | 1 in 1,015 |
| Minnesota | #188 | 15 | 1 in 1,418 |
| Washington | #221 | 6 | 1 in 1,801 |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Josephine
- 3 spots since 2024 (#56 → #53)
- 34 spots since 2020 (#87 → #53)
- 78 spots since 2015 (#131 → #53)
- Biggest jump: 46 spots in 1988 (#497 → #451)
- Biggest drop: 44 spots in 1975 (#389 → #433)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1917 at #21 (8,326 births)
- Births halved by 1932, 15 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 71 yrs · run 1880–1942
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 129 girls born in 1916 were named Josephine (0.78%)
- Latest: 1 in 390 girls born in 2025 (0.26%)
- Its best rank, #21 in 1917, was only 1 in 130 (0.77%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 20.9% of all girls named Josephine (69,223) were born in this decade
- Comeback: #21 (1917) → #497 (1987) → #53 (2025)
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,732 | #45 (1884) | #48 |
| 1890s | 12,463 | #44 (1899) | #48 |
| 1900s | 18,785 | #28 (1908) | #38 |
| 1910s | 61,355 | #21 (1917) | #25 |
| 1920s | 69,223 | #27 (1922) | #35 |
| 1930s | 36,051 | #49 (1930) | #68 |
| 1940s | 24,324 | #89 (1940) | #116 |
| 1950s | 16,412 | #146 (1950) | #196 |
| 1960s | 9,317 | #258 (1961) | #297 |
| 1970s | 5,154 | #363 (1970) | #412 |
| 1980s | 4,732 | #430 (1980) | #459 |
| 1990s | 7,059 | #312 (1999) | #385 |
| 2000s | 13,924 | #201 (2009) | #241 |
| 2010s | 23,960 | #90 (2019) | #137 |
| 2020s | 20,976 | #53 (2025) | #67 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Josephine in 1939
Top girls' names in 1939
Top boys' names in 1939
More about 1939
girls
1,096,612 girls got a published name in 1939; 1 in 387 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 98.3% of the 4,950 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,106,852 boys got a published name in 1939; 1 in 50,311 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 64.1% of the 3,968 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,390Sumner23
- #1,390Waverly23
- #1,390Worth23
- #1,425Josephine22
- #1,425Amador22
- #1,425Cal22
- #1,425Carnell22
- #1,458Burke21
- #1,458Chad21
- #1,458Conway21
Tied with 32 names at #1,425; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.