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
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Boy name variations
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
