"God will add"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
Josefa
Does Josefa flow with your last name?
A classic Iberian saint name meaning God will add
Spanish
Portuguese
Latin American
Czech
Classic
Elegant
Traditional
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Josefa
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Josefa
4 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"may God increase"
Origin: Hebrew via Latin
Language: Spanish
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Josefa
See all →What the Josefa report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Josefa the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Josefa
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Josefa head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Josefa actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Josefa
Josefa is the Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Joseph, which comes from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning God will add (another son). The name has been used throughout the Spanish-speaking world and in Czech and Slovak cultures for centuries. It carries the same biblical weight as Josephine but with a more distinctly Iberian and Latin American character, deeply rooted in Catholic naming traditions.
Josefa has long been a staple in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. In the United States, it remains rare, often found in communities with strong Spanish or Portuguese heritage. Its simplicity and elegance have kept it in quiet, steady use.
In the Catholic tradition of Spain and Latin America, Josefa is associated with Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Santa Josefa Rossello (1811–1880), an Italian saint canonized in 1949, has also kept the name in religious prominence.
Historical Record
Josefa first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 1,462 babies have been named Josefa in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Josefa is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #6,570 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Josefa is the direct Spanish/Portuguese equivalent of Josephine
- Saint Josefa Rossello of Italy was canonized in 1949, keeping the name in Catholic tradition
Josefa in Other Languages
Czech
Josefa
Hebrew
יוֹסֵפָה
Italian
Giuseppa
Spanish
Josefa
Portuguese
Josefa
Popularity Over Time
#6,570
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Josefa
J
Josefa Iloilo
Politician
1920
President of Fiji from 2000 to 2009, the first indigenous Fijian president
J
Josefa Rossello
Religious
1811
Italian Catholic saint, canonized in 1949, founder of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Analeyah
Girl
"weary, delicate (from Leah)"
#6,456
Renatta
Girl
"reborn, born again"
#6,388
Aide
Girl
"nobility, of noble kind"
#6,639
July
Girl
"downy-bearded, youthful"
#6,648
Yameiry
Girl
"creative Caribbean invention"
#6,490
Compare Josefa with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #6,570
- Total SSA Count
- 18
- Cultural Origins
- Spanish Portuguese Latin American Czech
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Jose
Josie
Pepa
Fefa
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, Latin American heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, Spanish heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, Spanish heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Josefa
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Josefa
Phonetic neighbors that share Josefa's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Josefa fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Similar Names
See all names like Josefa →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Josefa with...
Same Origin Names (Spanish)
See all Spanish names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Josefa
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Josefa and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Josefa sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Analeyah
Girl
Hebrew origin
"weary, delicate (from Leah)"
#6,456 in US
Renatta
Girl
Late Latin origin
"reborn, born again"
#6,388 in US
Aide
Girl
Germanic Adelheidis origin
"nobility, of noble kind"
#6,639 in US
July
Girl
Greek Ioulos origin
"downy-bearded, youthful"
#6,648 in US
Yameiry
Girl
Dominican/Contemporary origin
"creative Caribbean invention"
#6,490 in US
Mareli
Girl
Afrikaans compound origin
"combination of Maria and Elisabeth"
#6,523 in US
Azori
Girl
Portuguese origin
"azure, referring to the Azores islands"
#6,458 in US
Rene
Girl
Latin origin
"reborn, born again"
#6,605 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Josefa's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Josefa
What does the name Josefa mean?
"God will add" (from Hebrew). "may God increase" (from Hebrew via Latin). Josefa is the Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Joseph, which comes from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning God will add (another son). The name has been used throughout the Spanish-speaking world and in Czech and Slovak cultures for centuries. It carries the same biblical weight as Josephine but with a more distinctly Iberian and Latin American character, deeply rooted in Catholic naming traditions.
What is the origin of the name Josefa?
Josefa has Hebrew, Hebrew via Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, and Czech origins. In Hebrew, it means "God will add". In Hebrew via Latin, it means "may God increase".
Is Josefa a boy or girl name?
Josefa is primarily used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Josefa?
Josefa is currently ranked #6570 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Josefa?
Common nicknames for Josefa include Jose, Josie, Pepa, and Fefa.
What are good middle names for Josefa?
Popular middle name pairings include Josefa Maria, Josefa Elena, Josefa Isabel, Josefa Clara, Josefa Luz, and Josefa Carmen.
What are good sibling names for Josefa?
Names that pair well with Josefa as siblings include Rodrigo, Isabella, Miguel, Valentina, Carlos, and Lucia.
How many syllables does Josefa have?
Josefa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Josefa a common or rare name?
Josefa is an uncommon name, ranked #6570 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Josefa?
About the Name Josefa
Josefa is a girl name with Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American, and Czech origins . The name means "God will add" in Hebrew .
Josefa is currently ranked #6,570 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Josefa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Josefa include Jose, Josie, Pepa, and Fefa. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Josefa include Josephine, Joselyn, Josephina, Josefina, Josette . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew Names
Browse all names with this origin
J
Names Starting with J
More girl names like Josefa
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis