At a glance
- In short
- Jose is the Spanish form of Joseph, from Hebrew Yosef meaning God will add.
- U.S. rank 2025
- #95 of boy names
- Babies in 2025
- 3,678 (0.20% of boys)
- Trend
- Steady #94 in 2020 to #95 in 2025
- Peak
- #28 in 2004
- Top state
- #15 in Texas
- First recorded
- 1880
Meaning of Jose
Jose is the Spanish form of Joseph, which derives from the Hebrew Yosef, usually explained as meaning that God will add. It is a standard given name throughout the Spanish-speaking world and appears in Portuguese as José. In Spanish it is pronounced HOH-seh, with an initial sound closer to an English h than to the j in jump; English speakers generally say jo-ZAY.
Two bearers are especially well known. José Rizal was the Filipino writer and ophthalmologist whose novels and reform campaigns under Spanish rule led to his execution and to his recognition as a national hero of the Philippines. José de San Martín was the Argentine general who led the independence struggles of Argentina, Chile and Peru and is remembered as the Liberator of all three.
In the United States the name was already in use in the 1880s, when it ranked 161st. It rose steadily through the twentieth century, reaching its highest position, 28th, in 2004, and its largest single-year count in 2002, when 12,868 boys were given the name. It has since become less common: 3,678 boys were named Jose in 2025, the year it ranked 95th.
How to pronounce Jose
Spanish
- Pronounced HOH-seh /ˈxo.se/
Popularity of Jose in the U.S.
Jose was the #95 boy name in the U.S. in 2025, with 3,678 babies. It peaked at #28 in 2004 and has been in the top 100 since 1963.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1880–2025 146 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,678 | 95 | ▼ 4 |
| 2024 | 3,784 | 91 | ▲ 2 |
| 2023 | 3,725 | 93 | ▼ 5 |
| 2022 | 4,031 | 88 | ▲ 1 |
| 2021 | 4,002 | 89 | ▲ 5 |
| 2020 | 3,855 | 94 | ▼ 2 |
| 2019 | 4,135 | 92 | ▼ 3 |
| 2018 | 4,318 | 89 | ▼ 8 |
| 2017 | 4,815 | 81 | ▼ 4 |
| 2016 | 5,119 | 77 | ▲ 3 |
| 2015 | 5,177 | 80 | ▼ 4 |
| 2014 | 5,485 | 76 | – |
| 2013 | 5,627 | 76 | ▼ 4 |
| 2012 | 6,041 | 72 | ▼ 7 |
| 2011 | 6,766 | 65 | ▼ 13 |
| 2010 | 7,703 | 52 | ▼ 9 |
| 2009 | 8,818 | 43 | ▼ 3 |
| 2008 | 9,826 | 40 | ▼ 5 |
| 2007 | 11,252 | 35 | ▼ 5 |
| 2006 | 11,604 | 30 | – |
| 2005 | 12,065 | 30 | ▼ 2 |
| 2004 | 12,187 | 28 | ▲ 2 |
| 2003 | 12,394 | 30 | – |
| 2002 | 12,868 | 30 | ▲ 4 |
| 2001 | 12,144 | 34 | – |
| 2000 | 12,585 | 34 | ▲ 1 |
| 1999 | 12,155 | 35 | ▼ 2 |
| 1998 | 12,374 | 33 | ▼ 1 |
| 1997 | 11,929 | 32 | – |
| 1996 | 12,155 | 32 | ▲ 3 |
| 1995 | 11,781 | 35 | ▲ 1 |
| 1994 | 11,731 | 36 | – |
| 1993 | 11,847 | 36 | ▲ 1 |
| 1992 | 11,824 | 37 | – |
| 1991 | 11,727 | 37 | ▲ 4 |
| 1990 | 11,519 | 41 | ▲ 5 |
| 1989 | 10,331 | 46 | ▲ 3 |
| 1988 | 9,007 | 49 | ▼ 1 |
| 1987 | 8,737 | 48 | ▲ 3 |
| 1986 | 8,363 | 51 | ▼ 2 |
| 1985 | 8,403 | 49 | – |
| 1984 | 8,013 | 49 | ▼ 1 |
| 1983 | 8,073 | 48 | ▼ 2 |
| 1982 | 8,624 | 46 | ▼ 1 |
| 1981 | 8,773 | 45 | ▲ 1 |
| 1980 | 8,323 | 46 | ▼ 2 |
| 1979 | 7,848 | 44 | – |
| 1978 | 7,148 | 44 | ▲ 1 |
| 1977 | 6,919 | 45 | ▼ 1 |
| 1976 | 7,061 | 44 | ▲ 4 |
| 1975 | 6,967 | 48 | ▼ 1 |
| 1974 | 6,720 | 47 | ▲ 2 |
| 1973 | 6,097 | 49 | ▲ 1 |
| 1972 | 5,935 | 50 | ▲ 5 |
| 1971 | 6,004 | 55 | ▲ 1 |
| 1970 | 5,691 | 56 | – |
| 1969 | 5,185 | 56 | ▲ 2 |
| 1968 | 4,794 | 58 | ▲ 6 |
| 1967 | 4,417 | 64 | ▲ 15 |
| 1966 | 4,194 | 79 | ▲ 10 |
| 1965 | 3,966 | 89 | ▲ 5 |
| 1964 | 3,976 | 94 | ▲ 4 |
| 1963 | 4,012 | 98 | ▲ 5 |
| 1962 | 3,827 | 103 | ▲ 4 |
| 1961 | 3,757 | 107 | – |
| 1960 | 3,915 | 107 | ▲ 6 |
| 1959 | 3,579 | 113 | ▲ 5 |
| 1958 | 3,425 | 118 | ▼ 9 |
| 1957 | 3,472 | 109 | ▼ 1 |
| 1956 | 3,398 | 108 | ▼ 4 |
| 1955 | 3,313 | 104 | ▲ 3 |
| 1954 | 3,227 | 107 | ▲ 3 |
| 1953 | 3,016 | 110 | ▲ 4 |
| 1952 | 2,689 | 114 | ▼ 1 |
| 1951 | 2,683 | 113 | ▼ 4 |
| 1950 | 2,638 | 109 | ▲ 11 |
| 1949 | 2,441 | 120 | ▲ 6 |
| 1948 | 2,262 | 126 | ▲ 10 |
| 1947 | 2,091 | 136 | ▼ 3 |
| 1946 | 1,859 | 133 | ▼ 1 |
| 1945 | 1,607 | 132 | ▲ 7 |
| 1944 | 1,512 | 139 | ▲ 12 |
| 1943 | 1,373 | 151 | ▼ 1 |
| 1942 | 1,310 | 150 | ▼ 1 |
| 1941 | 1,194 | 149 | ▼ 1 |
| 1940 | 1,169 | 148 | – |
| 1939 | 1,098 | 148 | ▼ 6 |
| 1938 | 1,158 | 142 | – |
| 1937 | 1,087 | 142 | ▼ 3 |
| 1936 | 1,119 | 139 | ▼ 4 |
| 1935 | 1,168 | 135 | ▼ 2 |
| 1934 | 1,221 | 133 | ▲ 3 |
| 1933 | 1,171 | 136 | ▼ 5 |
| 1932 | 1,316 | 131 | ▼ 5 |
| 1931 | 1,360 | 126 | ▼ 13 |
| 1930 | 1,600 | 113 | ▼ 5 |
| 1929 | 1,692 | 108 | – |
| 1928 | 1,770 | 108 | ▲ 4 |
| 1927 | 1,636 | 112 | ▲ 13 |
| 1926 | 1,474 | 125 | – |
| 1925 | 1,449 | 125 | ▲ 3 |
| 1924 | 1,393 | 128 | ▼ 1 |
| 1923 | 1,325 | 127 | ▲ 4 |
| 1922 | 1,257 | 131 | ▲ 1 |
| 1921 | 1,210 | 132 | ▼ 2 |
| 1920 | 1,241 | 130 | ▲ 11 |
| 1919 | 1,026 | 141 | ▲ 19 |
| 1918 | 871 | 160 | ▼ 2 |
| 1917 | 800 | 158 | ▲ 17 |
| 1916 | 686 | 175 | ▼ 1 |
| 1915 | 659 | 174 | ▼ 14 |
| 1914 | 552 | 160 | ▲ 1 |
| 1913 | 432 | 161 | ▲ 2 |
| 1912 | 356 | 163 | ▼ 34 |
| 1911 | 268 | 129 | ▲ 5 |
| 1910 | 249 | 134 | ▼ 7 |
| 1909 | 213 | 127 | ▲ 6 |
| 1908 | 192 | 133 | ▲ 6 |
| 1907 | 170 | 139 | ▼ 3 |
| 1906 | 154 | 136 | ▼ 29 |
| 1905 | 200 | 107 | ▲ 32 |
| 1904 | 144 | 139 | ▼ 7 |
| 1903 | 141 | 132 | ▲ 14 |
| 1902 | 125 | 146 | ▼ 12 |
| 1901 | 127 | 134 | ▲ 3 |
| 1900 | 161 | 137 | ▲ 28 |
| 1899 | 90 | 165 | ▼ 10 |
| 1898 | 110 | 155 | ▲ 25 |
| 1897 | 85 | 180 | ▼ 22 |
| 1896 | 104 | 158 | ▼ 10 |
| 1895 | 104 | 148 | ▲ 15 |
| 1894 | 94 | 163 | ▲ 8 |
| 1893 | 84 | 171 | ▼ 20 |
| 1892 | 106 | 151 | ▲ 15 |
| 1891 | 77 | 166 | ▼ 15 |
| 1890 | 93 | 151 | ▲ 17 |
| 1889 | 80 | 168 | ▼ 14 |
| 1888 | 99 | 154 | ▼ 20 |
| 1887 | 95 | 134 | ▲ 28 |
| 1886 | 85 | 162 | ▼ 39 |
| 1885 | 111 | 123 | ▲ 5 |
| 1884 | 112 | 128 | ▲ 37 |
| 1883 | 74 | 165 | ▼ 21 |
| 1882 | 95 | 144 | ▲ 19 |
| 1881 | 75 | 163 | ▼ 2 |
| 1880 | 84 | 161 | – |
Jose by state
Jose ranks #15 in Texas (2025).
Rank by state 42 states and DC
| State | Rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 15 | 991 |
| Arizona | 22 | 185 |
| New Mexico | 30 | 37 |
| California | 49 | 681 |
| Wyoming | 72 | 6 |
| Nevada | 76 | 39 |
| Rhode Island | 77 | 13 |
| Colorado | 94 | 71 |
| Arkansas | 99 | 33 |
| Illinois | 101 | 114 |
| Oklahoma | 101 | 44 |
| Florida | 104 | 212 |
| Oregon | 106 | 36 |
| North Carolina | 107 | 114 |
| Kansas | 109 | 34 |
| Maryland | 112 | 51 |
| Georgia | 114 | 102 |
| South Carolina | 115 | 45 |
| District of Columbia | 120 | 7 |
| Nebraska | 122 | 21 |
| Washington | 130 | 61 |
| North Dakota | 136 | 9 |
| New Jersey | 140 | 69 |
| Alabama | 141 | 40 |
| Utah | 147 | 36 |
| Indiana | 150 | 55 |
| Virginia | 154 | 58 |
| Tennessee | 156 | 62 |
| Connecticut | 157 | 22 |
| Idaho | 162 | 17 |
| Delaware | 168 | 6 |
| Louisiana | 174 | 29 |
| Iowa | 187 | 22 |
| Massachusetts | 193 | 33 |
| Mississippi | 201 | 15 |
| Wisconsin | 204 | 30 |
| New York | 205 | 96 |
| Kentucky | 236 | 23 |
| Missouri | 261 | 27 |
| Minnesota | 287 | 21 |
| Ohio | 298 | 41 |
| Pennsylvania | 324 | 34 |
| Michigan | 363 | 24 |
| U.S. territories | ||
| Puerto Rico | 37 | 37 |
Notable people named Jose
- Jose Wright Diokno, a Filipino statesman and lawyer hailed as the Father of Human Rights in the Philippines, served as senator and justice secretary, founded FLAG, and uniquely topped both the bar and CPA exams.
- Jose Paciano Laurel y Garcia was a Filipino politician and jurist who led the Japanese backed Second Philippine Republic during World War II and is officially recognized as a former Philippine president.
- José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, nicknamed "The Special One", is a Portuguese football manager and former player, currently head coach of Real Madrid, known as one of the most decorated managers of all time.
- José Rizal was a Filipino nationalist, writer, polymath, and ophthalmologist widely regarded as a national hero, who advocated political reforms through the Propaganda Movement and was exiled by Spanish authorities to Dapitan.
- Jose Carlos Altuve is a Venezuelan second baseman for the Houston Astros since 2011, the longest tenured player on the team and an all time great who has also represented Venezuela in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics.
More people named Jose 9 more
- Argentine general José de San Martín, nicknamed "the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru," led southern and central South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain and served as Protector of Peru.
- José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera was a Cuban chess player and the third world chess champion from 1921 to 1927, renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play.
- José Aldo is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist who was the inaugural and longest-reigning UFC featherweight champion and is widely considered one of the greatest featherweights of all time.
- José Carreras is a Spanish operatic tenor known for his performances in operas by Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini and as one of the Three Tenors.
- José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano was a Uruguayan politician and ex-Tupamaros guerrilla who, after 14 years in prison, served as Uruguay's 40th president from 2010 to 2015 and legalized abortion, marijuana and same-sex marriage.
- José de Sousa Saramago was a Portuguese writer who won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature and was known for allegorical works and criticism of institutions such as the Catholic Church.
- José Dariel Abreu Correa is a Cuban-born MLB first baseman and free agent who previously played for the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.
- Italian-Brazilian former forward José João Altafini, also known as "Mazzola" in Brazil, is remembered as a prolific Serie A and AC Milan striker who set notable European Cup and scoring records.
- José Ortega y Gasset was a Spanish philosopher and essayist of the early 20th century whose life centered philosophy blended pragmatism, realist phenomenology, proto existentialism, and historicism.