Boy name#24 of boy names
Joshua
Pronounced JH AA1 SH UW2 AH0 (ARPABET)
- 3 syllables
- Peaked 1989
- 145 years in use
- Biblical
How popular is Joshua?
Joshua is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 1,252,401 children — the 24th most common boys' name on record.
It is falling away, down 59% on the previous decade. Its best single year was 1989, when 44,099 children were given it.
Nicknames
Common short forms: Josh.
Characteristics
- Biblical (Person)
- 3 syllables
Phonetic detail
- Pronunciations:
- JH AA1 SH UW2 AH0
- Stress pattern:
- 120
- Syllables:
- 3
Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.
Names like Joshua
Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.
Sibling names for Joshua
Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.
Frequently asked questions
- How popular is the name Joshua?
- Joshua ranks 24th among boys' names in US records, with 1,252,401 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 68,734.
- Is Joshua a unisex name?
- No. Joshua is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
- When was Joshua most popular?
- 1989, when 44,099 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
- What are common nicknames for Joshua?
- Josh. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.