Josef
Boy name · #2839 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Josef? In official American birth records, Josef has been tracked continuously since 1900, giving it 125 years of documented American history.
Josef ranks #2839 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 44 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1703, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,909 boys born in 2025 was named Josef.
The 125-year story
Josef first appears in the Social Security records in 1900, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 220 boys were named Josef — good for #737 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Josef per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Josef against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Josef in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Josef is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Josef will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Josef is most common
State-level data for Josef is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Josef
Statistically, parents drawn to Josef tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jamil, Jaron, Jovan, Reyes, and Johnson.
JamilJaronJovanReyesJohnsonJavanJamelJade
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Josef | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #2833 |
| 2024 | 63 | #2261 |
| 2023 | 61 | #2290 |
| 2022 | 59 | #2379 |
| 2021 | 72 | #2040 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2113 |
| 2019 | 81 | #1849 |
| 2018 | 84 | #1809 |
| 2017 | 81 | #1829 |
| 2016 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2015 | 91 | #1703 |
| 2014 | 113 | #1447 |
| 2013 | 108 | #1500 |
| 2012 | 95 | #1626 |
| 2011 | 137 | #1257 |
| 2010 | 129 | #1323 |
| 2009 | 125 | #1367 |
| 2008 | 158 | #1146 |
| 2007 | 165 | #1102 |
| 2006 | 191 | #974 |
| 2005 | 218 | #844 |
| 2004 | 185 | #917 |
| 2003 | 188 | #893 |
| 2002 | 195 | #848 |
| 2001 | 211 | #796 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Josef?
In official American birth records, the name Josef first appeared in 1900 (over 125 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Josef a popular boy name?
Josef ranked #2839 among boys in 2025 with 44 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1703.
When was the name Josef most popular?
Josef peaked in 1999, when 220 American boys received the name (ranked #737 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Josef?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,909 newborn American boys was named Josef. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.