"God will increase, God will add"
Jose
Pronunciation: [ h-ohz-AY ]
A timeless Spanish name meaning God will increase
Meaning & Origin
"God will increase"
"God will add"
The Story of Jose
Jose is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Joseph, which comes from the Hebrew name Yosef meaning God will add or God will increase. In the Bible, Joseph was the son of Jacob who was sold into slavery in Egypt but rose to become a powerful official. The name spread through Spanish colonization across the Americas and Pacific.
Jose has been a top-10 name in the Hispanic community in the US for generations and consistently ranks in the overall top 100. It reflects the deep Catholic tradition of naming children after saints, particularly Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.
In Spanish-speaking cultures, Jose is one of the most traditional and revered names, closely tied to Saint Joseph, patron saint of workers and fathers. The feast of Saint Joseph on March 19 is celebrated across Latin America.
Fun Facts
- Jose is consistently one of the top 5 most common names in Spanish-speaking countries
- The diminutive Pepe is used throughout Spain and Latin America
- Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, making Jose a deeply sacred name in Catholic tradition
Jose in Other Languages
Famous People Named Jose
Jose Altuve
Athlete
1990
Venezuelan MLB star and World Series champion with the Houston Astros
José Mourinho
Athlete
1963
Portuguese football manager known as The Special One, won trophies at Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho
Athlete
1963
Legendary Portuguese football manager known as The Special One
José Carreras
Musician
1946
Spanish operatic tenor and one of the Three Tenors along with Pavarotti and Domingo
José Martí
Writer
1853
Cuban poet, philosopher, and national hero who led the independence movement against Spain
Jose Marti
Writer
1853
Cuban poet and revolutionary hero, national symbol of Cuba
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #91
- Total SSA Count
- 3,768
- Cultural Origins
- Spanish Latin American Portuguese Filipino
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Jose is also used as a girl name, ranked #38938.
View Jose as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jose
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About the Name Jose
Jose is a boy name with Spanish, Latin American, Portuguese, and Filipino origins . The name means "God will increase, God will add" in Hebrew .
Is Jose a boy or girl name? Jose is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #91 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #38,938. Jose is more commonly used as a boy name.
Jose is currently ranked #91 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Jose has 2 syllables and is pronounced h-ohz-AY, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jose include Pepe, Che, Joe, and Joey. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jose include Joseph, Josiah, Joshua, Josue, Josias . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.