"God will increase, God will add"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Josey
Pronunciation: [ j-OHZ-ee ]
Does Josey flow with your last name?
A charming vintage diminutive with frontier spirit
English
American
Vintage
Sweet
Playful
Classic
Southern
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Josey
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Josey
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"diminutive of Josephine"
Origin: English
Language: English
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Josey
See all →What the Josey report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Josey 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 Josey
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Josey head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Josey 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 Josey
Josey is a variant spelling of Josie, itself a diminutive of Josephine, which derives from the Hebrew Yoseph (Joseph), meaning 'God will add' or 'God will increase.' The name Joseph/Yoseph appears in the Old Testament as the patriarch sold into slavery by his brothers who later rose to prominence in Egypt. Josephine was popularized by Napoleon's empress, and the diminutive Josie/Josey carries all of this history in a folksy, warm package.
Josie and its variant Josey have experienced a revival in the 2010s-2020s as parents rediscover vintage diminutive names with a homespun charm (Sadie, Ellie, Maisie follow the same pattern). The Clint Eastwood Western 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' (1976) and various country songs have kept the name in cultural memory.
Josey Wales became an iconic American name through the 1976 Clint Eastwood film, making Josey synonymous with frontier independence and grit. As a girl's name, Josey connects to the warm tradition of Southern American pet names that remain in use for adults.
Historical Record
Josey first appeared in US Social Security records in 1954.
Over 3,123 babies have been named Josey in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Josey is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #2,339 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' (1976) is one of Clint Eastwood's most celebrated films
- Josephine, the full name, was Napoleon Bonaparte's beloved first wife and Empress of France
- The name Joseph appears over 200 times in the Bible, making it one of the most historically significant names
Josey in Other Languages
French
Joséphine
German
Josefine
Hebrew
יוסף (Yoseph)
Italian
Giuseppina
Spanish
Josefina
Popularity Over Time
#2,339
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Josey
J
Josey Scott
Musician
1965
Lead singer of the rock band Saliva, known for collaborations on film soundtracks
J
Josey Wales Fictional
Other
The legendary outlaw protagonist of Clint Eastwood's 1976 Western film
J
Josie and the Pussycats Fictional
Other
Comic book and animated series characters (Archie Comics, later film), popularized the Josie sound
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Brixley
Girl
"from Brixton, the brick settlement"
#2,316
Kyrie
Girl
"lord have mercy (liturgical phrase)"
#2,274
Elvira
Girl
"foreign, true"
#2,277
Jordynn
Girl
"flowing river"
#2,489
Aiyanna
Girl
"always blooming"
#2,240
Compare Josey with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,339
- Total SSA Count
- 79
- Cultural Origins
- English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Jo
Jos
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Josey
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Josey fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Josey is also used as a boy name, ranked #4052.
View Josey as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Josey →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 Josey with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Josey
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Josey and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Josey 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 →
Brixley
Girl
Old English origin
"from Brixton, the brick settlement"
#2,316 in US
Kyrie
Girl
Greek ecclesiastical origin
"lord have mercy (liturgical phrase)"
#2,274 in US
Elvira
Girl
Visigothic Germanic origin
"foreign, true"
#2,277 in US
Jordynn
Girl
Hebrew origin
"flowing river"
#2,489 in US
Aiyanna
Girl
Native American origin
"always blooming"
#2,240 in US
Kenzley
Girl
Old English origin
"Royal meadow clearing"
#2,268 in US
Dalani
Girl
Swahili origin
"from the sky, heavenly"
#2,263 in US
Jailyne
Girl
Greek/French origin
"possibly 'healer' + '-line' suffix"
#2,424 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Josey's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Josey
What does the name Josey mean?
"God will increase, God will add" (from Hebrew). "diminutive of Josephine" (from English). Josey is a variant spelling of Josie, itself a diminutive of Josephine, which derives from the Hebrew Yoseph (Joseph), meaning 'God will add' or 'God will increase.' The name Joseph/Yoseph appears in the Old Testament as the patriarch sold into slavery by his brothers who later rose to prominence in Egypt. Josephine was popularized by Napoleon's empress, and the diminutive Josie/Josey carries all of this history in a folksy, warm package.
What is the origin of the name Josey?
Josey has Hebrew, English, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "God will increase, God will add". In English, it means "diminutive of Josephine".
Is Josey a boy or girl name?
Josey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2339. As a boy name, it is ranked #4052. Josey is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Josey?
Josey is pronounced j-OHZ-ee.
How popular is the name Josey?
Josey is currently ranked #2339 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Josey?
Common nicknames for Josey include Jos.
What are good middle names for Josey?
Popular middle name pairings include Josey Grace, Josey Mae, Josey Lynn, Josey Anne, Josey Belle, Josey Kate, and Josey Wren.
What are good sibling names for Josey?
Names that pair well with Josey as siblings include Willa, Sadie, Maisie, Clover, Beau, Wilder, and Daisy.
How many syllables does Josey have?
Josey has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Josey a common or rare name?
Josey is an uncommon name, ranked #2339 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Josey?
About the Name Josey
Josey is a girl name with English and American origins . The name means "God will increase, God will add" in Hebrew .
Is Josey a boy or girl name? Josey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,339 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #4,052. Josey is more commonly used as a girl name.
Josey is currently ranked #2,339 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Josey has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-OHZ-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Josey include Jo and Jos. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Josey 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 Josey
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
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