Josh
Josh was the 1703rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 96 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 300th; the most babies were born in 1979 (531). Over the last ten years it has moved down 302 places. More babies were named Josh in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,703 boys, down 21 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 96boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1979531 babies
- Total since 1880
- 17,288babies recorded
Josh popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,703 | 96 |
| 2020 | #1,682 | 94 |
| 2010 | #1,083 | 178 |
| 2000 | #822 | 195 |
| 1990 | #700 | 212 |
| 1980 | #371 | 461 |
| 1970 | #511 | 248 |
| 1960 | #693 | 129 |
| 1950 | #1,150 | 39 |
| 1940 | #1,220 | 31 |
| 1930 | #1,378 | 28 |
| 1920 | #1,043 | 45 |
| 1910 | #610 | 23 |
| 1900 | #461 | 25 |
| 1890 | #364 | 24 |
| 1880 | #300 | 31 |
How popular is Josh, counting every spelling?
Josh has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Josh?
96 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Josh (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Josh born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 87 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Josh.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Josh?
About 14,200 people born in the US named Josh are alive today, with a median age of 40; half are between 22 and 51. That makes Josh mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Josh by state
How common Josh was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Jersey (3.5×), Florida (2.5×), New York (2.3×). In 42 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Josh: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Josh, they share its era and feel.
Josh is also a nickname for Joshua.
Questions about the name Josh
How popular is the name Josh?
Josh was the 1703rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 96 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 300th; the most babies were born in 1979 (531). Over the last ten years it has moved down 302 places. More babies were named Josh in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Josh a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Josh in the US.
Where is Josh most popular?
In 2021–2025, Josh was most common in New Jersey (0.19 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and New York.