Updated February 28, 2024

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Boy name origins & meanings

  • Hebrew: God of salvation

What does Joshua mean and stand for?

The name Joshua is of Hebrew origin and means "the lord is my salvation." Sharing the same origins as the name Jesus, Joshua derives from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, from the roots "yeho", referring to God, and "Yasha," meaning “to save.”

Syllables: 3

Discover more baby name meanings to learn what's behind every name. 

Boy name variations

Yehosha

Yehosha

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Josh

Josh

- 6% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Josiah

Josiah

- 6% this year
Neutral
Common
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Joshawa

Joshawa

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Johsua

Johsua

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Johusa

Johusa

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshau

Joshau

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshaua

Joshaua

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshauh

Joshauh

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshawah

Joshawah

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshia

Joshia

+ 20% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshuaa

Joshuaa

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshuea

Joshuea

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshuia

Joshuia

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshula

Joshula

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshus

Joshus

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshusa

Joshusa

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshuwa

Joshuwa

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshwa

Joshwa

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jousha

Jousha

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jozshua

Jozshua

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jozsua

Jozsua

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Jozua

Jozua

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshuah

Joshuah

- 38% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Joshue

Joshue

+ 40% this year
Masculine
Rare
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How Popular Is The Name Joshua

Family name origins & meanings

  • Jewish and Gentile (from northern Europe to South India): From the Biblical name, Hebrew Yehoshuah, meaning ‘may Jehovah help him’. It was borne by the Israelite leader who took command of the children of Israel after the death of Moses and led them to take possession of the promised land. In Britain, Joshua was a popular name among Nonconformists from the 17th century onward; as a result, it is a typically Welsh surname, since Welsh surnames were comparatively late in formation.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Popularity of the Name Joshua 

According to Social Security Administration data, Joshua has been a consistently popular baby boy name, remaining in the top 50 since 2000, and in the top 5 from 2000 to 2008. Lately, however, Joshua has been decreasing in popularity, still staying in the top 50, though.

However, it is the 48th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years, Joshua was at its peak popularity in December 2019.

Joshua, which was in the top 10 from 1993 to 2010, has religious roots, sharing the same origins with the name Jesus. In the Old Testament, Joshua was the successor to Moses who finally led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Where is the name Joshua popular?

Joshua was searched for most often in the following states:

Nicknames for Joshua

  • Jay
  • Jo
  • Josh
  • Joshy
  • Shua

Joshua pairs well with these middle names

Meaning and Origin of Joshua