Josie

Pronunciation: [ j-OHZ-ee ]

Girl Name #88 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

Vintage sweetness with a rock-and-roll spirit

English American

Vintage Whimsical Playful Classic Gentle

Meaning & Origin

"God will increase"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: English

"may Jehovah add"

Origin: French

Language: French

"God will add; God increases"

Origin: Hebrew via English

Language: English

"may God increase"

Origin: Hebrew Yosef

Language: Hebrew

The Story of Josie

Josie is a diminutive of Josephine, itself the feminine form of Joseph, from the Hebrew 'Yosef' meaning 'God will add' or 'God increases.' Joseph was one of the most important patriarchs in the Hebrew Bible — the son of Jacob who was sold into slavery in Egypt but rose to become Pharaoh's chief advisor. Josephine became fashionable as a girl's name in the 18th century, particularly after Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's wife.

Josie has been climbing steadily in the United States since 2010 and entered the Top 200 around 2015. The vintage nickname feel — similar to Rosie, Gracie, and Nellie — aligns perfectly with the current trend of sweet, Victorian-era names. It works as both a nickname and a standalone given name.

In American folk and pop culture, Josie is perhaps best known from 'Josie and the Pussycats,' the Archie Comics rock band that became a 1970s cartoon and 2001 film. The character embodied fun, independence, and girl-power decades before those terms were common. In classic country and folk music, Josie is a warm, approachable name with deep American roots.

Fun Facts

Josie is a diminutive of Josephine, the name of Napoleon Bonaparte's beloved first wife, Empress Joséphine
Josie and the Pussycats debuted in Archie Comics in 1963 and became a landmark feminist pop culture touchstone
Joseph (Yosef in Hebrew) is one of the most-told stories in the Torah, the Quran, and the Bible — making Josie's name root one of the world's most shared narratives

Josie in Other Languages

French Joséphine

German Josephine

Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yosef, original masculine form)

Italian Giuseppina

Spanish Josefina

Portuguese Josefina

Famous People Named Josie

Josie Long

Entertainer

1982

British stand-up comedian and podcaster known for political humor

Josie Rourke

Artist

1975

British theatre director who served as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse and directed the acclaimed film Mary Qu...

British theatre director who served as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse and directed the acclaimed film Mary Queen of Scots

Josie Bissett

Actor

1970

American actress best known for her role in the TV series Melrose Place

Josie Lawrence

Actor

1959

British actress and comedian known for improvisational comedy and stage work

Empress Joséphine

Royalty

1763

First wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress of France, the woman whose grace and style defined an era of European fashi...

First wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress of France, the woman whose grace and style defined an era of European fashion

Josie and the Pussycats Fictional

Other

Josie McCoy, the fearless lead guitarist and singer of the Pussycats, first appearing in Archie Comics in 1963 and inspi...

Josie McCoy, the fearless lead guitarist and singer of the Pussycats, first appearing in Archie Comics in 1963 and inspiring generations of girl-band dreams

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #88
Total SSA Count: 2,893
Cultural Origins: English American
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Casual
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Common Nicknames

Pairs Well With

Josie Mae Josie Rose Josie Kate Josie Jane Josie Claire Josie Faye Josie Bea

Sibling Names

Daisy Rosie Nellie Archie Henry Freddie Molly

Also a Boy Name

Josie is also used as a boy name, ranked #7869.

View Josie as a boy name →

Similar Names

Rose Rosa Rosie Sophie Roxie Rosalie Jesse Ruthie

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Josie

What does the name Josie mean?

"God will increase" (from Hebrew). "may Jehovah add" (from French). "God will add; God increases" (from Hebrew via English). "may God increase" (from Hebrew Yosef). Josie is a diminutive of Josephine, itself the feminine form of Joseph, from the Hebrew 'Yosef' meaning 'God will add' or 'God increases.' Joseph was one of the most important patriarchs in the Hebrew Bible — the son of Jacob who was sold into slavery in Egypt but rose to become Pharaoh's chief advisor. Josephine became fashionable as a girl's name in the 18th century, particularly after Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's wife.

What is the origin of the name Josie?

Josie has Hebrew, French, Hebrew via English, Hebrew Yosef, English, and American origins. In Hebrew, it means "God will increase". In French, it means "may Jehovah add". In Hebrew via English, it means "God will add; God increases". In Hebrew Yosef, it means "may God increase".

Is Josie a boy or girl name?

Josie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #88. As a boy name, it is ranked #7869. Josie is more commonly used as a girl name.

How do you pronounce Josie?

Josie is pronounced j-OHZ-ee.

How popular is the name Josie?

Josie is currently ranked #88 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Josie?

Common nicknames for Josie include Jo.

What are good middle names for Josie?

Popular middle name pairings include Josie Mae, Josie Rose, Josie Kate, Josie Jane, Josie Claire, Josie Faye, and Josie Bea.

What are good sibling names for Josie?

Names that pair well with Josie as siblings include Daisy, Rosie, Nellie, Archie, Henry, Freddie, and Molly.

How many syllables does Josie have?

Josie has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Josie a common or rare name?

Josie is a very popular name, ranked #88 among girl names in the United States.

About the Name Josie

Josie is a girl name with English and American origins . The name means "God will increase" in Hebrew .

Is Josie a boy or girl name? Josie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #88 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #7,869. Josie is more commonly used as a girl name.

Josie is currently ranked #88 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Josie has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-OHZ-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

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