Josephine
Meaning of Josephine
Josephine is a timeless and elegant name of French origin, derived from the male name Joseph, which means "God will add" or "God increases." Pronounced JOH-suh-feen in English and zhoh-zeh-FEEN in French, this name carries a regal and sophisticated charm. Historically popular across various cultures, Josephine has been associated with notable figures such as Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. The name has maintained steady popularity in the United States over the years, consistently ranking within the top 500 names since records began in 1880. In recent years, it has seen a resurgence, climbing to rank 64 in 2023 with 3347 occurrences. Common variations include Josie and Jo, offering more casual alternatives while retaining its classic appeal. Whether you seek a name with historical significance or timeless elegance for your baby girl, Josephine is a beautiful choice that stands out through generations.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as JOH-suh-feen (/ˈdʒəʊsəfɪn/)
American English
- Pronunced as JOH-suh-feen (/ˈdʒoʊsəˌfin/)
French
- Pronunced as zhoh-zeh-FEEN (/ʒɔ.ze.fin/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Josephine
| Josephine Baker - Joséphine Baker was an American-born French dancer, singer, and actress, known for being the first black woman to star in a major motion picture. |
| Josephine of Leuchtenberg - Joséphine of Leuchtenberg, Queen of Sweden and Norway, was a politically active royal who introduced more liberal laws regarding religion during her reign. |
| Josephine Margaret Bakhita, a Sudanese-Italian Canossian religious sister who was declared a saint in 2000, is known for her remarkable life story of overcoming slavery and finding faith. |
| Josephine Tey, the pseudonym of Scottish author Elizabeth MacKintosh, is known for her acclaimed novel The Daughter of Time and her successful play Richard of Bordeaux. |
| Josephine Cochrane - Josephine Garis Cochran was an American inventor known for creating the first successful hand-powered dishwasher. |
| Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin was a prominent civil rights leader, suffragist, and publisher of the first national newspaper for African American women. |
| Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken was the common-law wife of Filipino nationalist José Rizal, with their alleged marriage being a subject of dispute due to lack of records. |
| Josephine Decker is an English-born American filmmaker known for directing films such as Madeline's Madeline and Shirley. |
| Josephine Shaw Lowell was a prominent Progressive Reform leader in the United States, best known for founding the New York Consumers League in 1890. |
| Josephine Cushman Bateham was an American social reformer, editor, and writer known for her work in the temperance movement and as the first Superintendent of the Sabbath Observance Department of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. |
| Marie Josephine Hull was an accomplished American stage and film actress, known for her award-winning performance in the movie Harvey (1950) and her successful 50-year career on stage. |
| Josephine Mary Flood is an English-born Australian archaeologist, mountaineer, and author. |
| Josephine Eliza Langford is an Australian actress known for her lead role as Tessa Young in the After film series and for her appearances in Moxie, The Other Zoey, and Gigi & Nate. |
| Josephine Louise Miles was an influential American poet, literary critic, and pioneering scholar in quantitative and computational methods, known for her foundational work in digital humanities and her contributions to writing across the curriculum programs. |
| Josephine Marien Crawford, an American painter from an aristocratic family in New Orleans, Louisiana, is known for introducing modernism to the city alongside Paul Ninas and Will Henry Stevens. |
