Youssef
Youssef was the 1562nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 110 babies. Its best year was 2016, when it ranked 1042nd; the most babies were born in 2017 (193). Over the last ten years it has moved down 493 places. More babies were named Youssef in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Yousef) Arabic form of Joseph · Arabic, Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #1,562 boys, down 65 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 110boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2017193 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,705babies recorded
What does the name Youssef mean?
Youssef is a spelling of Yousef, pronounced the same way, so it shares Yousef's meaning and origin.
Yousef is a spelling of Arabic Yūsuf, the equivalent of Joseph, whose story is told in the Quran's twelfth sura as well as in Genesis. Joseph is Hebrew Yosef, explained in Genesis 30:24, where Rachel names her son saying 'May the LORD add another son for me', linking the name to the verb yasaf 'to add'. It is a very common name throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
يُوسُف (Yūsuf) (Arabic, “Joseph”)יוֹסֵף (Yosef) (Biblical Hebrew, “he will add”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Yusuf, Youssef, Joseph, Yosef.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Yousef', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 30:24 (Sefaria, with JPS translation), Sefaria
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Joseph', DMNES (Durham University)
Youssef popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,562 | 110 |
| 2020 | #1,497 | 114 |
| 2010 | #1,491 | 110 |
| 2000 | #1,608 | 74 |
| 1990 | #3,462 | 18 |
| 1980 | #5,518 | 7 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Youssef, counting every spelling?
Youssef is a spelling of Yousef, a name family that ranked #548 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,562 for Youssef on its own. Together these spellings went to 547 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yousef | 349 | #745 | 1,489 |
| Youssef | 110 | #1,562 | 602 |
| Yusef | 83 | #1,904 | 374 |
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 Youssef?
110 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Youssef (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Youssef 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 76 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Youssef.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Youssef?
About 3,700 people born in the US named Youssef are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 8 and 21. That makes Youssef 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.
Youssef by state
How common Youssef was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Michigan (3.2×), New Jersey (3.2×), New York (2.4×), Virginia (1.8×). In 39 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 Youssef: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Youssef, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Youssef
What does Youssef mean?
Youssef is a spelling of Yousef, which means “Arabic form of Joseph” (Arabic, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Youssef?
Youssef was the 1562nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 110 babies. Its best year was 2016, when it ranked 1042nd; the most babies were born in 2017 (193). Over the last ten years it has moved down 493 places. More babies were named Youssef in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Youssef a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Youssef in the US.
Where is Youssef most popular?
In 2021–2025, Youssef was most common in Michigan (0.23 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Jersey and New York.