Girl Name · French Origin
Josephine
Josephine is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a girl's name of French origin, and in 2026 it sits in the Top 250 of US baby names.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Josephine is a girl baby name of French origin. It currently sits in the Top 250 tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Josephine often also consider Josephina.
Josephine meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Josephine has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: French naming roots help connect Josephine to related French baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Josephine as J·O·S·E·P·H·I·N·E, with 9 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Josephine is a popular favorite that still feels personal in the Top 250 tier.
Josephine variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Josephinea, Josephinee, Josephiney, Josephin.
- Nicknames: Josep and J.
- Middle names: Pair Josephine with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Josephine middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Josephina, Josefina, Jackeline, Jacqueline, Johanne — full picks on the sibling names for Josephine guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Josephine? Browse our names like Josephine guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Compare Josephine side by side
Head-to-head breakdowns of meaning, popularity, pronunciation, and sibling fit.
Frequently asked about Josephine
What does the name Josephine mean?
Josephine has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Josephine?
Josephine originates in French naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Josephine?
Josephine has 9 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Josephine a boy's or girl's name?
Josephine is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Josephine in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Josephine sits in the Top 250 tier — a popular favorite that still feels personal.
What names are similar to Josephine?
Names that share Josephine's sound and style include Josephina, Josefina, Jackeline, Jacqueline, Johanne.
What middle names pair well with Josephine?
Good middle-name fits for Josephine pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Josephine is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Josephine is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Josephine?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Josephine share its rhythm without rhyming — Josephina, Josefina, Jackeline all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.