Joshua

Pronunciation: [ j-AHSH-oo-uh ]

Boy Name #57 Most Popular Steady 3 Syllables

The name that stormed Jericho and topped America's charts for a generation

Hebrew English Christian American

Biblical Classic Strong Traditional Friendly

Meaning & Origin

"may God deliver"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: English

"God is salvation, the Lord saves"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

"Yahweh is deliverance"

Origin: Biblical Hebrew

Language: English

The Story of Joshua

Joshua derives from the Hebrew Yehoshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation or God saves. It is the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus, both names sharing the same ancient root. Joshua was Moses's military commander and successor, the man who led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land after 40 years of wilderness wandering. His story occupies the entire Book of Joshua and represents one of the great narratives of faith, courage, and fulfillment in human history.

Joshua was the number one boys name in the US for much of the 1970s and 1980s, making it the defining name of Generation X. It remains solidly in the top 20 decades later—a perennial classic with remarkable staying power. The nickname Josh is one of the most common American male names for men born between 1970 and 1995.

Joshua's role as the leader who brought the Israelites into Canaan makes his name synonymous with fulfilled promise and courageous leadership. The phrase fighting the battle of Jericho—from the story where the walls fell at a trumpet blast and a shout—has become a universal idiom for overcoming impossible obstacles through faith.

Fun Facts

Joshua and Jesus share the same original Hebrew name—Yehoshua—reflecting the same meaning: God saves
Joshua held the number one spot in the US Social Security baby name rankings for boys for much of the 1970s-80s
The walls of Jericho, said to have fallen before Joshua's army, have been excavated by archaeologists and the site at Tell es-Sultan remains one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth

Joshua in Other Languages

French Josue

German Josua

Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ

Italian Giosue

Spanish Josue

Portuguese Josue

Famous People Named Joshua

Josh Groban

Musician

1981

American singer-songwriter known for operatic pop ballads including You Raise Me Up and To Where You Are

Joshua Jackson

Actor

1978

Canadian-American actor known for Dawson's Creek and The Affair

Josh Brolin

Actor

1968

American actor known for Thanos in the Avengers films, No Country for Old Men, and Sicario

Joshua Bell

Musician

1967

American violinist and conductor considered one of the greatest violinists of his generation

Joshua Reynolds

Artist

1723

English painter and founder of the Royal Academy of Arts

Joshua (Biblical Leader)

Military

Israelite military leader and Moses's successor who led the Israelites into Canaan, hero of the Book of Joshua

Christopher Robin Fictional

Other

Wait—wrong entry. Joshua from Wargames (1983 film) is a famous fictional AI named Joshua, though technically the charact...

Wait—wrong entry. Joshua from Wargames (1983 film) is a famous fictional AI named Joshua, though technically the character is an AI not a person

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 3
Popularity Rank: #57
Total SSA Count: 5,244
Cultural Origins: Hebrew English Christian American
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Josh #1742 Joshuan #4114

Common Nicknames

Josh Jo

Pairs Well With

Joshua Alexander Joshua James Joshua Michael Joshua Thomas Joshua David Joshua Ryan Joshua Lee

Sibling Names

Caleb Noah Hannah Abigail Elijah Rachel Samuel

Also a Girl Name

Joshua is also used as a girl name, ranked #16563.

View Joshua as a girl name →

Similar Names

Joella Joseph Joe Moses Noah Jose Isaiah Josh

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua

What does the name Joshua mean?

"may God deliver" (from Hebrew). "God is salvation, the Lord saves" (from Hebrew). "Yahweh is deliverance" (from Biblical Hebrew). Joshua derives from the Hebrew Yehoshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation or God saves. It is the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus, both names sharing the same ancient root. Joshua was Moses's military commander and successor, the man who led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land after 40 years of wilderness wandering. His story occupies the entire Book of Joshua and represents one of the great narratives of faith, courage, and fulfillment in human history.

What is the origin of the name Joshua?

Joshua has Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, English, Christian, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "may God deliver". In Hebrew, it means "God is salvation, the Lord saves". In Biblical Hebrew, it means "Yahweh is deliverance".

Is Joshua a boy or girl name?

Joshua is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #57. As a girl name, it is ranked #16563. Joshua is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Joshua?

Joshua is pronounced j-AHSH-oo-uh.

How popular is the name Joshua?

Joshua is currently ranked #57 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Joshua?

Common nicknames for Joshua include Josh and Jo.

What are good middle names for Joshua?

Popular middle name pairings include Joshua Alexander, Joshua James, Joshua Michael, Joshua Thomas, Joshua David, Joshua Ryan, and Joshua Lee.

What are good sibling names for Joshua?

Names that pair well with Joshua as siblings include Caleb, Noah, Hannah, Abigail, Elijah, Rachel, and Samuel.

How many syllables does Joshua have?

Joshua has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.

Is Joshua a common or rare name?

Joshua is a very popular name, ranked #57 among boy names in the United States.

About the Name Joshua

Joshua is a boy name with Hebrew, English, Christian, and American origins . The name means "may God deliver" in Hebrew .

Is Joshua a boy or girl name? Joshua is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #57 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #16,563. Joshua is more commonly used as a boy name.

Joshua is currently ranked #57 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Joshua has 3 syllables and is pronounced j-AHSH-oo-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Joshua include Josh and Jo. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Joshua include Josh, Joshuan . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.