Boy name · Hebrew
Joshua
“the Lord is salvation”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Joshua.
Explore Joshua further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Joshua — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Joshua is Yehoshua, and it is the same name as Jesus: Yeshua is its shortened Aramaic form, which Greek rendered Iēsous and Latin Iesus. English received the two spellings from two different books and never reunited them.
It was a US top-five name through the 1980s and 1990s — the peak Josh generation — and has declined steadily since to number 66. That curve is nearly identical to Matthew's.
Josh is universal and completely neutral. Three syllables want one or two (Joshua Cole, Joshua Everett). On our vibe map it is Heirloom with a Y2K Nostalgic marker.
More Hebrew names
Joshua sits in our Hebrew set — these share its roots.
All Hebrew names →Joshua — common questions
Is Joshua a boy or girl name?
Joshua is traditionally a boy name of Hebrew origin.
What does the name Joshua mean?
Joshua means “the Lord is salvation” of Hebrew origin. Joshua is Yehoshua, and it is the same name as Jesus: Yeshua is its shortened Aramaic form, which Greek rendered Iēsous and Latin Iesus. English received the two spellings from two different books and never reunited them.
Where does the name Joshua come from?
Joshua is Hebrew in origin. It was a US top-five name through the 1980s and 1990s — the peak Josh generation — and has declined steadily since to number 66. That curve is nearly identical to Matthew's.
What are common nicknames for Joshua?
Josh and Jos — the short-forms parents most often use for Joshua.
How popular is Joshua?
Joshua did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Joshua you might want for the nursery.