Youssef

Pronunciation: [ y-OOS-ehf ]

Boy Name #1,605 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

A Quranic and biblical name meaning God adds abundance

Arabic North African Persian Turkish Egyptian

Classic Spiritual Strong Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"God will increase, God adds"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

"may He (God) add"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Arabic

The Story of Youssef

Youssef is the Arabic and North African transliteration of Yusuf, itself the Arabic form of the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning God will increase or may God add more children. The name was given by Jacobs wife Rachel at Josephs birth, expressing her hope for more sons. Youssef is the dominant spelling in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Youssef/Yusuf is one of the most popular names across the Arab world and Muslim-majority countries, appearing in the top 10 from Morocco to Malaysia. The story of Yusuf is the only complete narrative of a prophet in the Quran, making this name especially blessed in Islamic tradition.

Surah Yusuf (Chapter 12 of the Quran) is devoted entirely to the story of Yusuf, making this one of the most blessed names in Islamic tradition. The story involves dreams, betrayal, resilience, and divine providence. Joseph/Yusuf is one of the few figures revered in all three Abrahamic faiths.

Fun Facts

Surah Yusuf in the Quran is sometimes called the most beautiful of stories
Joseph/Yusuf appears as a prophet in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism
Yusuf Islam is the adopted name of Cat Stevens after his conversion to Islam in 1977

Youssef in Other Languages

Arabic يوسف

French Joseph

Hebrew יוֹסֵף

Italian Giuseppe

Spanish Jose

Turkish Yusuf

Famous People Named Youssef

Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)

Musician

1948

British singer-songwriter known for Wild World and Father and Son, who converted to Islam in 1977

Youssef Chahine

Other

1926

Egyptian film director considered the most important in Arab cinema history, known for Alexandria... Why?

Joseph (Yusuf - biblical)

Religious

Patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Hebrew Bible and Quranic prophet with a full chapter devoted to his stor...

Patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Hebrew Bible and Quranic prophet with a full chapter devoted to his story

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #1,605
Total SSA Count: 107
Cultural Origins: Arabic North African Persian Turkish Egyptian
Pronunciation: Moderate
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Alternative Spellings

Yousef #767 Yousuf #1794 Yousif #2202

Common Nicknames

Yous

Pairs Well With

Youssef Ali Youssef Ibrahim Youssef Hassan Youssef Karim Youssef Nasser Youssef Omar Youssef Tariq

Sibling Names

Mahdi Hadi Fatima Aisha Mariam Omar Layla

Similar Names

Jose Joshua Josef Giuseppe Joey Yusuf Yehuda Yosef

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

Can't decide?

Start a tournament bracket with Youssef and other names you're considering.

Start a Tournament

Like this name?

Check how Youssef sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.

Analyze This Name

Browse more boy names →

Explore 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

Frequently Asked Questions About Youssef

What does the name Youssef mean?

"God will increase, God adds" (from Hebrew). "may He (God) add" (from Hebrew). Youssef is the Arabic and North African transliteration of Yusuf, itself the Arabic form of the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning God will increase or may God add more children. The name was given by Jacobs wife Rachel at Josephs birth, expressing her hope for more sons. Youssef is the dominant spelling in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt.

What is the origin of the name Youssef?

Youssef has Hebrew, Arabic, North African, Persian, Turkish, and Egyptian origins. In Hebrew, it means "God will increase, God adds". In Hebrew, it means "may He (God) add".

Is Youssef a boy or girl name?

Youssef is primarily used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Youssef?

Youssef is pronounced y-OOS-ehf.

How popular is the name Youssef?

Youssef is currently ranked #1605 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Youssef?

Common nicknames for Youssef include Yous.

What are good middle names for Youssef?

Popular middle name pairings include Youssef Ali, Youssef Ibrahim, Youssef Hassan, Youssef Karim, Youssef Nasser, Youssef Omar, and Youssef Tariq.

What are good sibling names for Youssef?

Names that pair well with Youssef as siblings include Mahdi, Hadi, Fatima, Aisha, Mariam, Omar, and Layla.

How many syllables does Youssef have?

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

Is Youssef a common or rare name?

Youssef is an uncommon name, ranked #1605 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Youssef

Youssef is a boy name with Arabic, North African, Persian, Turkish, and Egyptian origins . The name means "God will increase, God adds" in Hebrew .

Youssef is currently ranked #1,605 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Youssef has 2 syllables and is pronounced y-OOS-ehf, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

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

Alternative spellings of Youssef include Yousef, Yousuf, Yousif . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.