Joshuah
Joshuah was the 7930th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 10 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked 973rd; the most babies were born in 1989 (106). Over the last ten years it has moved down 4,105 places. More babies were named Joshuah in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Joshua) God is salvation · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #7,930 boys, down 1,123 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 10boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1989106 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,873babies recorded
What does the name Joshuah mean?
Joshuah is a spelling of Joshua, pronounced the same way, so it shares Joshua's meaning and origin.
Joshua is the English form of Hebrew Yehoshua, the name of Moses' assistant and successor, who leads the Israelites into Canaan. Numbers 13:16 says Moses changed his name from Hoshea to Yehoshua, adding the divine name to a root meaning 'save'. The result is usually read as 'Yahweh is salvation'. A later form, Yeshua, became Iesous in Greek and Jesus in English, so the two names are close relatives. DMNES records Josua in English baptism records from 1551, and it spread with Puritan naming.
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Biblical Hebrew, “Yehoshua”)ישע (Hebrew, “save”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Josh, Josué, Yehoshua, Jesus.
See also: Hebrew names, names that mean God.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Joshua', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Hebrew Bible, Numbers 13:16, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Wiktionary, entry 'Joshua', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Joshuah popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,930 | 10 |
| 2020 | #6,807 | 12 |
| 2010 | #1,980 | 70 |
| 2000 | #1,530 | 79 |
| 1990 | #1,124 | 92 |
| 1980 | #1,029 | 78 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Joshuah, counting every spelling?
Joshuah is a spelling of Joshua, a name family that ranked #73 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #7,930 for Joshuah on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,783 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua | 4,773 | #66 | 25,839 |
| Joshuah | 10 | #7,930 | 49 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Joshuah?
10 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Joshuah (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Joshuah 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 831 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Joshuah.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Joshuah?
About 2,800 people born in the US named Joshuah are alive today, with a median age of 30; half are between 20 and 39. That makes Joshuah mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Joshuah: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Joshuah, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Joshuah
What does Joshuah mean?
Joshuah is a spelling of Joshua, which means “God is salvation” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Joshuah?
Joshuah was the 7930th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 10 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked 973rd; the most babies were born in 1989 (106). Over the last ten years it has moved down 4,105 places. More babies were named Joshuah in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Joshuah a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Joshuah in the US.