Fun Facts About the Name Yosiah
- 426 babies named Yosiah: U.S. records list 426 babies given the name Yosiah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Yosiah Mean?
Yosiah is a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Josiah, generally understood to mean "Yahweh supports" or "Yahweh heals." Its earlier form is יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoʾshiyyahu), also shortened to יֹאשִׁיָּה (Yoʾshiyyah), in which the opening element is a short form of the divine name YHWH. The second element is not fully certain: it has been connected with a verb meaning "to support" or "to heal," so the literal etymology remains debated. The customary English rendering is Josiah; Yosiah uses Y for the Hebrew initial yod instead of the English J.
Yosiah Name History & Origins
The name belongs to the biblical King Josiah of Judah, who reigned in the late seventh century BCE and is remembered in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles for religious reforms. In the Hebrew Bible his name appears as יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoʾshiyyahu) and יֹאשִׁיָּה (Yoʾshiyyah). Greek translators of the Septuagint wrote it Ιωσιας (Iosias), and the Latin Vulgate used Iosias; these forms lie behind the English spelling Josiah.
Yosiah follows the same name but represents the initial Hebrew yod as Y, a transliteration style also used in forms such as Yosef for Joseph. It is not the standard spelling in English Bibles; it is a variant of Josiah rather than a separate biblical name with its own Hebrew source.
How Popular is the Name Yosiah?
Yosiah 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 #2,475 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 | #2,475 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 2024 | #2,939 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2023 | #2,607 | 51 | 0.0030% |
| 2022 | #3,213 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2021 | #3,732 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2020 | #3,492 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #4,106 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2018 | #6,027 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #6,668 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #5,781 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #6,311 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #6,295 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #4,972 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #8,843 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #8,741 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #9,661 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #9,842 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #10,887 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #13,974 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #13,326 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #8,127 | 9 | 0.0005% |
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 Yosiah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual. You hate bondage in any form. You have love of beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You are willing to take spiritual matters on faith instead of subjecting them to mental analysis. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
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.
✦ Yosiah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Yosiah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.