How to say it
JO · se · phine
ˈdʒoʊ.sə.fin
Feminine
Josephine
He will add
What it means
French feminine of Joseph, from Hebrew Yosef, 'he will add' (implying God will add more children). Most famously the name of Napoleon's first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais.
Josephine is the French feminine of Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef ('he will add,' the prayer of Rachel after Joseph's birth in Genesis). The form arrived in English via Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's first wife, whose letters and life were one of the cultural fascinations of the 19th century. Josephine Baker, the American-born French entertainer and Civil Rights activist, kept the name in cultural circulation through the 20th century. It crashed mid-century and has roared back since 2010 as part of the vintage revival. The standard nickname tree is Jo, Josie, Josette, and the French Phine (rare in English).
How to spell Josephine
The standard spelling is Josephine. Common variants include Joséphine, Josefina, but Josephine is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #21 in 1916, currently #53 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
The nickname tree is unusually deep: Jo, Josie, Josette, Posey, Phine, and the French Fifi all show up. Most families settle on Josie or Jo for daily use.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Joséphine de Beauharnais Napoleon's first wife, Empress of the French
- Josephine Baker American-born French entertainer and civil-rights activist
Spelling variants
- Joséphine
- Josefina
Names with the same feeling
See Josephine from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Josephine mean?
- French feminine of Joseph, from Hebrew Yosef, 'he will add' (implying God will add more children). Most famously the name of Napoleon's first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais.
- What does Josephine mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Josephine means "He will add." Josephine is the French feminine of Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef ('he will add,' the prayer of Rachel after Joseph's birth in Genesis). The form arrived in English via Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's first wife, whose letters and life were one of the cultural fascinations of the 19th century. Josephine Baker, the American-born French entertainer and Civil Rights activist, kept the name in cultural circulation through the 20th century. It crashed mid-century and has roared back since 2010 as part of the vintage revival. The standard nickname tree is Jo, Josie, Josette, and the French Phine (rare in English).
- How do you pronounce Josephine?
- Josephine is pronounced ˈdʒoʊ.sə.fin. Say it as JO-se-phine, with the stress on the "jo" syllable.
- How do you spell Josephine?
- The standard spelling is Josephine. Common spelling variants include Joséphine, Josefina.
- Is Josephine a boy or girl name?
- Josephine is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Josephine?
- Josephine ranked #53 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.