What Does the Name Joshua Mean?
Joshua is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “Yahweh is salvation.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Joshua |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | Yahweh is salvation |
| Variants | Josh, Yehoshua, Josué, Josh |
| Popularity | A US top 5 boys' name through the 1980s-1990s. |
The meaning and origin of Joshua
The name Joshua means “Yahweh is salvation” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew Yehoshua, borne by Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The name is the source of the later form Jesus via Greek.
Variants and related names
Joshua is related to several other names you may recognize: Josh, Yehoshua, Josué, Josh. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Joshua?
A US top 5 boys' name through the 1980s-1990s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joshua mean?+
The name Joshua means “Yahweh is salvation” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Joshua?+
Joshua originates from Hebrew.
Is Joshua a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Joshua has trended in the US over time.
Joshua by gender
More boy's names
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