How to say it
JO · sie
ˈdʒoʊ.zi
Feminine
Josie
He will add
What it means
Diminutive of Josephine (and of Joseph by extension), from Hebrew Yosef. Originally a nickname, now usually a standalone given name.
Josie started as a nickname for Josephine (or Joseph for boys) and graduated to a given name in its own right. The same root: Hebrew Yosef, 'he will add.' Josie and the Pussycats (the Hanna-Barbera animated series since 1970, then the 2001 live-action film) gave the name pop-culture currency. Some families use Josie as the short for Josephine; others treat it as a separate name on the birth certificate. It's been in the US top 200 since 2014. Jo and Joey are rare further shorts.
How to spell Josie
The standard spelling is Josie. Common variants include Josy, Jose, but Josie is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #82 in 2025, currently #82 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
- Pop culture
Josie and the Pussycats (the Hanna-Barbera cartoon and the 2001 live-action film) gave Josie pop-culture residence; the children's-book Josie Smith is the gentler UK reference.
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.
- Josie (Josie and the Pussycats) Lead character of the Hanna-Barbera series since 1970
- Josie Maran American model and entrepreneur, Josie Maran Cosmetics
Spelling variants
- Josy
- Jose
Names with the same feeling
See Josie from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Josie mean?
- Diminutive of Josephine (and of Joseph by extension), from Hebrew Yosef. Originally a nickname, now usually a standalone given name.
- What does Josie mean in French?
- In French, Josie means "He will add." Josie started as a nickname for Josephine (or Joseph for boys) and graduated to a given name in its own right. The same root: Hebrew Yosef, 'he will add.' Josie and the Pussycats (the Hanna-Barbera animated series since 1970, then the 2001 live-action film) gave the name pop-culture currency. Some families use Josie as the short for Josephine; others treat it as a separate name on the birth certificate. It's been in the US top 200 since 2014. Jo and Joey are rare further shorts.
- Is Josie short for Josephine?
- Yes. Josie is a short form of Josephine, and it carries the same meaning, "He will add." These days many parents use Josie as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Josie?
- Josie is pronounced ˈdʒoʊ.zi. Say it as JO-sie, with the stress on the "jo" syllable.
- How do you spell Josie?
- The standard spelling is Josie. Common spelling variants include Josy, Jose.
- Is Josie a boy or girl name?
- Josie is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Josie?
- Josie ranked #82 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.