What Does the Name Josephine Mean?
Josephine is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning “he will add (feminine form of Joseph).”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Josephine |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | he will add (feminine form of Joseph) |
| Variants | Josepha, Joséphine, Giuseppina, Josie, Fina |
| Popularity | A steadily popular US classic, ranking in the top 100 girls' names in the 2010s and 2020s. |
The meaning and origin of Josephine
The name Josephine means “he will add (feminine form of Joseph)” and has Hebrew origins. Josephine is the French feminine form of Joseph, ultimately from the Hebrew Yosef. It was borne by Napoleon's first wife, Empress Josephine, which boosted its use, and it remains a classic name with vintage charm.
Variants and related names
Josephine is related to several other names you may recognize: Josepha, Joséphine, Giuseppina, Josie, Fina. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Josephine?
A steadily popular US classic, ranking in the top 100 girls' names in the 2010s and 2020s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Josephine mean?+
The name Josephine means “he will add (feminine form of Joseph)” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Josephine?+
Josephine originates from Hebrew.
Is Josephine a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Josephine has trended in the US over time.
Josephine by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press