Josephine
GirlFrench · English /ˈdʒoʊsəfiːn/, with initial stress and a long final vowel.
Josephine offers an elegant full form and the lighter English short forms Jo and Josie, with a meaning inherited from Joseph.
Origin
French
Pronunciation
English /ˈdʒoʊsəfiːn/, with initial stress and a long final vowel.
May God add or increase.
Josephine is a feminine name formed through French, with a Hebrew meaning inherited from Joseph: ‘may God add’ or ‘increase’. That layered origin explains why French and Hebrew both belong in its story. The full name has an unhurried, elegant feel, especially in its long final sound. Jo and Josie are established English short forms, offering a more casual register if wanted. Josephine itself need not be shortened: its flowing shape is a good part of its appeal.
Etymology: Josephine comes through French Joséphine, a feminine form of Joseph, whose roots are Hebrew.
Spelling table
Code
.--- --- ... . .--. .... .. -. .
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Braille
⠠⠚⠕⠎⠑⠏⠓⠊⠝⠑
Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Girls
Rank53
Boys
RankNot reported
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
French
Origin
Hebrew