Fun Facts About the Name Goshen
- 25 babies named Goshen: U.S. records list 25 babies given the name Goshen from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Goshen Mean?
Goshen is a Hebrew place name whose meaning is uncertain. It appears in the Hebrew Bible as גֹּשֶׁן (Goshen), the district in the eastern Nile Delta where the Israelites settled during their time in Egypt. The Hebrew form does not have a clear explanation from within Hebrew vocabulary, and many scholars have looked instead to an Egyptian origin for the name of the region; no Egyptian derivation has been firmly established. Because the name is attested as a geographic name rather than as an ordinary Hebrew word, its literal sense cannot be stated with confidence, and later uses of "Goshen" to suggest a place of safety or plenty are symbolic readings rather than the word's etymology.
Goshen Name History & Origins
Goshen enters recorded history through the Hebrew Bible, where it names the region in Egypt given to Joseph's family (Genesis 45 - 47) and the place where the Israelites are living at the opening of Exodus. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, the name is written Γεσέμ (Gesem), reflecting how the Hebrew name was rendered in Greek-speaking Jewish communities.
Because the biblical Goshen was the settled home of the Israelites before the Exodus, later Jewish and Christian retelling treated the name as a byword for a place of dwelling and refuge during hardship. That figurative use is a later interpretive layer, not evidence of the name's original sense.
Goshen was subsequently reused as a place name in the United States, including towns in New York and Indiana, where the biblical associations of the name were familiar to settlers. Its use as a personal given name is uncommon and largely modern, following the place name rather than any long-standing tradition of use as a first name.
How Popular is the Name Goshen?
Goshen has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #9,192 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,192 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #12,769 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #9,909 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #12,708 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Goshen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Goshen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Goshen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.