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

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1917 · 8,326 births
Debut · girls
544 births
In top 100 · girls
71 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
331,467
since 1880

Josephine over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201961peak #21, 1917girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#534,126—
2024#563,765—
2023#643,371#12,2395
2022#703,266—
2021#723,391—
2020#873,057—
2019#903,123—
2018#913,050—
2017#1072,823—
2016#1142,797—
2015#1312,505—
2014#1472,286—
2013#1602,012—
2012#1601,957—
2011#1811,730—
2010#1851,677—
2009#2011,628—
2008#2081,635—
2007#2231,562—
2006#2211,548—
2005#2291,490—
2004#2421,337—
2003#2581,257—
2002#2641,198—
2001#2751,153—
2000#2871,116—
1999#312989—
1998#347840—
1997#353784—
1996#371725—
1995#375700—
1994#390648—
1993#418596—
1992#427591—
1991#421607—
1990#435579—
1989#459527#5,1659
1988#451503#7,2705
1987#497436—
1986#470456—
1985#485423—
1984#471437—
1983#438480—
1982#440491—
1981#451477—
1980#430502—
1979#462437—
1978#438457—
1977#451442—
1976#449431—
1975#433456#4,7976
1974#389536—
1973#383535—
1972#372580—
1971#381603—
1970#363677—
1969#338699—
1968#332693—
1967#319744—
1966#306838—
1965#309863#3,2447
1964#297962#2,8549
1963#2811,054#3,6466
1962#2691,103#4,0335
1961#2581,204#3,3567
1960#2631,157#3,3377
1959#2571,177—
1958#2391,274#3,9445
1957#2211,442—
1956#2101,485#2,7989
1955#1991,595#3,5056
1954#1861,719#3,1767
1953#1721,799#2,9058
1952#1691,862#3,3736
1951#1571,966#2,6629
1950#1462,093—
1949#1432,163—
1948#1342,230#3,0107
1947#1332,351—
1946#1272,228#3,1736
1945#1202,146#2,24210
1944#1152,324#1,98813
1943#1082,664#1,91015
1942#1002,748#1,73017
1941#922,726#1,53220
1940#892,744#2,08112
1939#842,837#1,42522
1938#832,978#1,36424
1937#822,942#1,31326
1936#773,141#1,32625
1935#753,262#1,39024
1934#603,742#1,55120
1933#623,569#1,54020
1932#574,095#1,11037
1931#514,497#1,12836
1930#494,988#1,23533
1929#455,298#1,41326
1928#425,671#1,32330
1927#396,108#1,29332
1926#376,410#1,84618
1925#366,810#1,49325
1924#347,274#1,96417
1923#307,560#2,12315
1922#277,864#1,59123
1921#288,135#1,70321
1920#288,093#2,23114
1919#268,104#1,69520
1918#248,682#1,37327
1917#218,326#1,75518
1916#218,127#1,94915
1915#227,606#1,78216
1914#235,896#1,49217
1913#244,822#1,49713
1912#283,980#1,61910
1911#293,011#89614
1910#302,801#1,1938
1909#312,416#89311
1908#282,389#1,0218
1907#332,156#9998
1906#381,900#9278
1905#371,894#1,0027
1904#401,701—
1903#401,587#65612
1902#421,565#9337
1901#431,434#7798
1900#471,743#1,1626
1899#441,388#9286
1898#461,425—
1897#471,267#8527
1896#501,256#9007
1895#471,334—
1894#481,256—
1893#501,178—
1892#491,210#9566
1891#491,031#9635
1890#491,118#8846
1889#491,047#8786
1888#491,001#1,0315
1887#50815—
1886#47844—
1885#47783#8366
1884#45800—
1883#46697—
1882#49638—
1881#48563—
1880#50544—
First appearance
1880

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 1961

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedNHWashington: #531 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,561 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #365 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,864 girlsMNIllinois: #300 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 2,221 girlsILWisconsin: #497 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 7,366 girlsWIMichigan: #344 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 3,103 girlsMINew York: #150 for girls · 233 births · 1 in 721 girlsNYMassachusetts: #211 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,501 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #222 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,178 girlsSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedIAIndiana: #477 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 5,545 girlsINOhio: #324 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 2,817 girlsOHPennsylvania: #256 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 1,851 girlsPANew Jersey: #171 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 864 girlsNJConnecticut: #182 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 982 girlsCTCalifornia: #257 for girls · 121 births · 1 in 1,447 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedUTColorado: #214 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 994 girlsCONebraska: #352 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,957 girlsNEMissouri: #526 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 6,328 girlsMOKentucky: #283 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,993 girlsKYWest Virginia: #318 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,403 girlsWVVirginia: #231 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,434 girlsVAMaryland: #256 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,685 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedDEArizona: #182 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 731 girlsAZNew Mexico: #121 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 412 girlsNMKansas: #441 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,065 girlsKSArkansas: #233 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,249 girlsARTennessee: #429 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,023 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #294 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,951 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #206 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,038 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Josephine, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #358 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,606 girlsOKLouisiana: #274 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,585 girlsLAMississippi: #156 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 730 girlsMSAlabama: #195 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,011 girlsALGeorgia: #226 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 1,273 girlsGAHawaii: #184 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 678 girlsHITexas: #271 for girls · 76 births · 1 in 1,471 girlsTXFlorida: #258 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 1,565 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. New Mexico#121 · 1 in 412
  2. New York#150 · 1 in 721
  3. Mississippi#156 · 1 in 730
  4. New Jersey#171 · 1 in 864
  5. Arizona#182 · 1 in 731

Best ever in a state: #2 in Nevada, 1912.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Mexico#121291 in 412
New York#1502331 in 721
Mississippi#156341 in 730
New Jersey#171681 in 864
Arizona#182211 in 731
Connecticut#182251 in 982
Hawaii#18491 in 678
Alabama#195341 in 1,011
South Carolina#206251 in 1,038
Massachusetts#211361 in 1,501
Colorado#214201 in 994
South Dakota#22261 in 1,178
Georgia#226351 in 1,273
Virginia#231281 in 1,434
Arkansas#233141 in 1,249
Maryland#256181 in 1,685
Pennsylvania#256601 in 1,851
California#2571211 in 1,447
Florida#258321 in 1,565
Texas#271761 in 1,471
Louisiana#274241 in 1,585
Kentucky#283161 in 1,993
North Carolina#294251 in 1,951
Illinois#300481 in 2,221
West Virginia#31871 in 2,403
Ohio#324371 in 2,817
Michigan#344281 in 3,103
Nebraska#35251 in 2,957
Oklahoma#35881 in 2,606
Minnesota#365101 in 3,864
Tennessee#42991 in 4,023
Kansas#44151 in 4,065
Indiana#47791 in 5,545
Wisconsin#49761 in 7,366
Missouri#52671 in 6,328
Washington#53151 in 5,561
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Maine———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
Utah———
Vermont———
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
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 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)
Rise & fade · girls
37 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1917 at #21 (8,326 births)
  • Births halved by 1932, 15 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 71 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 71 yrs · run 1880–1942
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 129
  • 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
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 20.9% of all girls named Josephine (69,223) were born in this decade
  • Comeback: #21 (1917) → #497 (1987) → #53 (2025)
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s7,732#45 (1884)#48
1890s12,463#44 (1899)#48
1900s18,785#28 (1908)#38
1910s61,355#21 (1917)#25
1920s69,223#27 (1922)#35
1930s36,051#49 (1930)#68
1940s24,324#89 (1940)#116
1950s16,412#146 (1950)#196
1960s9,317#258 (1961)#297
1970s5,154#363 (1970)#412
1980s4,732#430 (1980)#459
1990s7,059#312 (1999)#385
2000s13,924#201 (2009)#241
2010s23,960#90 (2019)#137
2020s20,976#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 1961

girls
#258
1,204 births · 1 in 1,676 girls
boys
#3,356
7 births · 1 in 303,456 boys

Top girls' names in 1961

  1. #1Mary47,682
  2. #2Lisa42,720
  3. #3Susan37,532
  4. #4Linda35,597
  5. #5Karen34,707
  6. #6Patricia28,889
  7. #7Donna28,679
  8. #8Cynthia24,393
  9. #9Sandra24,153
  10. #10Deborah24,107
  11. #258Josephine1,204

Top boys' names in 1961

  1. #1Michael86,974
  2. #2David84,810
  3. #3John79,983
  4. #4James75,969
  5. #5Robert72,977
  6. #6Mark57,796
  7. #7William48,045
  8. #8Richard41,142
  9. #9Thomas37,565
  10. #10Steven32,275
  11. #3,356Josephine7
More about 1961

girls

2,018,495 girls got a published name in 1961; 1 in 1,676 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 96.6% of the 7,527 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Josephine
  1. #255Kimberley1,210
  2. #256Bernadette1,208
  3. #257Kristi1,205
  4. #258Josephine1,204
  5. #259Delores1,191
  6. #260Allison1,182
  7. #261Kristine1,174
Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
  1. ↑ 997Corinna#1,811 → #814
  2. ↑ 789Sabra#1,637 → #848
  3. ↑ 745Velvet#1,286 → #541
  4. ↑ 601Johnna#1,043 → #442
  5. ↑ 600Damita#1,597 → #997
Fallers
  1. ↓ 317Sheena#980 → #1,297
  2. ↓ 253Lita#909 → #1,162
  3. ↓ 241Jannette#970 → #1,211
  4. ↓ 229Francisca#939 → #1,168
  5. ↓ 214Andra#822 → #1,036

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,124,195 boys got a published name in 1961; 1 in 303,456 of them was named Josephine, which outranked 27.9% of the 4,657 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Josephine
  1. #3,097Zeferino8
  2. #3,097Zeno8
  3. #3,097Zimbalist8
  4. #3,356Josephine7
  5. #3,356Adelbert7
  6. #3,356Adonis7
  7. #3,356Alanzo7
  8. #3,652Abundio6
  9. #3,652Adelaido6
  10. #3,652Adriano6

Tied with 295 names at #3,356; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,171Parrish#4,038 → #867
  2. ↑ 589Brook#1,252 → #663
  3. ↑ 467Osvaldo#1,434 → #967
  4. ↑ 426Shayne#1,152 → #726
  5. ↑ 367Pernell#1,295 → #928
Fallers
  1. ↓ 425Wayde#672 → #1,097
  2. ↓ 380Yancy#923 → #1,303
  3. ↓ 301Jonas#905 → #1,206
  4. ↓ 264Tobin#833 → #1,097
  5. ↓ 253Keenan#748 → #1,001

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1961 →