English: Statue of Joseph of Arimathea in Bom Jesus, Braga, Portugal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
He’s among the most enduring of the classics, one of the few boys’ names to never leave the US Top 25.
Thanks to KO for suggesting Joseph as our Baby Name of the Day.
Joe’s strength is his weakness. He’s versatile and evergreen, a name worn by athletes, actors, and academics, politicians and preachers, over the course of human history. Maybe that’s why Joe is also an everyman name – he’s not quite John Doe, but he is a Regular Joe, and more recently, Joe Six-Pack. They’re not, strictly speaking, unflattering, especially in the US. Joe sounds capable, whether he’s an accountant or a plumber.
Like many of the classics, he’s on a slight decline. But that has more to do with parents’ willingness to consider a broader range of names than any real lacking on the part of Joseph.
The Hebrew name’s meaning is usually given as “God will add.” It feels lucky, and many a Joseph has been blessed with good fortune.
It’s impossible to mention every notable who has answered to the name, but we have to start with the Old Testament. He’s Jacob’s son, son number eleven, but a particular favorite. His jealous brothers hoodwinked him to leaving town for Egypt, where Joseph prospered. It ends happily – the brothers eventually join him in Egypt, and all are reconciled.
In the New Testament, there’s Joseph, foster father to Jesus, and also Joseph of Arimathea, the wealthy man who donated his own tomb for Jesus. Legend makes him the first keeper of the Holy Grail. Some suggest that he might be the same figure as Titus Flavius Josephus, a first century historian.
Joseph had a good run in the Middle Ages, mostly with Jewish families in the English-speaking world. Post-Reformation, he became popular with Christian families, too. Like many a Biblical favorite, Joseph is widely translated. In 1690, Joseph I became Holy Roman Emperor, and ruled Hungary as József. José I ruled Portugal in the 1700s. In the nineteenth century, Giuseppe Verdi composed some of the world’s most admired operas.
By the twentieth century, he was a staple. Plenty of immigrants shed their given names to become Joe. From action hero G.I. Joe to the Yankees’ Joe DiMaggio to quarterback Joe Montana to literary figures like Joseph Conrad and Joseph Heller, it is impossible to pigeonhole Joe.
A Top Ten choice from 1880 through 1935, with periodic appearances in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and from 1999 through 2005, you probably know a Joseph, or have a Joseph or three on your family tree.
How does Joseph wear today?
He’s a safe middle name choice to pair with a daring first: the Beckhams have Brooklyn Joseph and Sharon Stone has Roan Joseph.
And if Joe doesn’t suit, there’s at least one other nickname option: filmmaker Joss Whedon is also a Joseph.
Maybe it is the story of Joseph and Mary, but Joseph also feels capable and humble, a solid name. While scoundrels have answered to Joe, he sounds like a good guy.
If you’re after a versatile classic, rich in history and tradition, it is hard to find a better choice than Joseph.
Joe says
September 8, 2012 at 11:29 PMAs a Joe who just completed thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail yesterday, this post makes me extremely happy. Big thanks to Angela for making me aware of it.
appellationmountain says
September 9, 2012 at 8:41 AMWhat an accomplishment – congrats to you!
Ashlie says
September 8, 2012 at 3:26 PMI love the nickname Joe, but I’m not of fan of Joseph. Any other ideas on how to get to Joe?
Julie says
September 8, 2012 at 8:51 PMThere are lots of getting to Joe names… Jonah, Johan, Jonas, Josiah, Joel, Joah, Joachim, George. I know a Joshua who goes by Joe, so I would think just about any Jo– name could easily become Joe.
appellationmountain says
September 9, 2012 at 8:44 AMGreat list!
Angela says
September 8, 2012 at 12:49 PMMy brother Josef somehow acquired the nickname Jooj (difficult to explain the pronunciation without using the International Phonetic Alphabet… It’s like the j from “juice”, the vowel from “could”, and the ending from “fudge”).
Jonquil says
September 6, 2012 at 5:43 AMI meant to add, being an Aussie, that in Australia a “joey” is an endearing term for a baby kangaroo.
Josie says
September 5, 2012 at 8:54 PMI like it. I’m a Josie (Hebrew name Yosefa) though, so it’d be unusable for me. And honestly, I have so many relatives named Joseph that I really favour Joel and Josiah just for still having a Joe Everyman NN option and solid, real Biblical ties, without being yet-another-Joseph.
Joel and Josiah, though, don’t have the mainstream timelessness.
KO says
September 5, 2012 at 7:17 PMAttention: Please don’t name your son Joseph! 😉
Julie says
September 5, 2012 at 6:01 PMLike Lola’s family Joseph is one of “our” family names too. There is probably one Joseph in every generation for centuries, so it was no surprise when my nephew was named Joseph Richard. I would have probably picked Josiah or Jonah, but you can’t go wrong with such a solid, classic name.
One of the more interesting things about the name is how many companies/places have Joe or Joseph in their names: Trader’s Joe, Wine by Joe, Saint Joseph University, etc. Not so great if you’re looking for a unique name for you store… but if you’re a little kid, you’ll find lots of swag with your name printed on it. 😉
Megalady says
September 5, 2012 at 5:36 PMI’ve been thawing toward Joseph for a while though I used to really dislike the name. Joe doesn’t really excite me though. I like Joss much better, and Jepp even more. And while I’m just coming around to Joseph I’ve always loved the variant Jessup, which offers up another cute nickname, Jess.
appellationmountain says
September 6, 2012 at 5:42 AMJepp is great!
Jonquil says
September 5, 2012 at 1:40 PMThis name has really grown in appeal to me, since finding at least one Joseph on most branches of my family tree. I’m even warming to the Joe nickname.
Lola says
September 5, 2012 at 1:37 PMJoseph, for me, is *the* family name. My Maternal Grandfather was Jozef and went by, yes… Joe. I have 12 cousins named Joseph in his honor (weird considering Granddad was a mean drunken coal-miner of a guy). But yes,12 Josephs who go by various nicknames from Joey (which on a grown guy – sexy!), to Joe, Jojo, Jody & Joss. I have a Josephine/Josie (after the Aunty named for Joe) so I’ll never have a Joey of my own. I sort of mourn that loss a little every day but am content with Josie. At least She’s got no duplicate in the family. 😀
appellationmountain says
September 6, 2012 at 5:41 AMJoseph is big for us, too, or it would be … my great-grandfather was Joseph. (I assume he was Giuseppe when he immigrated, but he is always referred to as Joseph.) But there haven’t been many boys in our family, so it has seen little use. We considered naming Aly Alexander Joseph, but my husband hated the idea of calling him AJ, so that was a non-starter. It is still floating around on our shortlists …
Kristin says
September 5, 2012 at 12:43 PMJoseph is a nice enough name, just not one I would choose. I don’t care for its nicknames, and it has a slightly doughy feel to me. Quite a sensible name, though.
SkyeRhyly says
September 5, 2012 at 11:36 AMNever liked Joseph, it’s just so overused. Has it ever fall off the top20?
Plus I just hate the nickname Joe.
Angela says
September 8, 2012 at 12:52 PMJoseph is currently ranked #22. So, yes.
Kara says
September 5, 2012 at 10:45 AMI’ve always liked Joss, but couldn’t think of a way to get it besides Josiah which i really don’t care for. Joseph is a nice alternative.
C in DC says
September 5, 2012 at 10:06 AMI’m surprised you didn’t mention coffee. 🙂 More daring parents could name a child Joseph and nn him Java.
Surprising, this one isn’t in my family tree, but both my adopted uncle and my daughter’s godfather are named Joe, and we know a 4 y.o. Joe (never Joey, especially since his middle name is Lawrence).
appellationmountain says
September 6, 2012 at 5:39 AMHA! Love Joseph, nn Java.
And you’re right – coffee should be in here, somewhere.
British American says
September 5, 2012 at 7:15 AMI know two Josephs at our church. One of a Joseph II – his grandfather is also Joseph, but he has a different middle name. The 2nd grader goes by JoeJoe. Then there’s a 1 year old Joseph, who is a twin to Benjamin. They go by Joe and Benny. Or also JoeJoe.
It is a nice sensible name. 🙂
Colleen says
September 5, 2012 at 7:06 AMI think Joseph is a very handsome name. My husband comes from a family of carpenters. Joseph is a potential middle name on our list to honor them. It’s not the name if you wish to shock the relatives with your naming, but the sound is pleasant, the meaning is great and I think most boys would be happy to be a Joe.
Sarah A says
September 5, 2012 at 6:50 AMI like Joseph okay. I just don’t like Joe or Joey. I prefer the Arabic Yusef since it doesn’t lend itself as easily to Joe. Joe to me is a name like Mike, Ben, Dave, Dan, etc. I know just too many and it doesn’t feel fresh. Besides, my style of Biblical boy names is more along the lines of Moses and Hezekiah 😉