Josefine is of German origin and means "God shall increase". It is a feminine name that has been used throughout history, with notable figures such as Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, contributing to its recognition. The name Josefine is composed of two elements: "Josef" which is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "he shall increase", and "fine", which means "beautiful". Therefore, Josefine can be interpreted as "God shall increase beauty". This elegant name has gained popularity in various European countries including Germany, Austria, Sweden, and Denmark. In some regions, it may also be spelled Josephine or Josefa. Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Josefine, contributing to its enduring appeal.
The name Josefine had a fluctuating popularity over the years with peaks in recent times. It was particularly popular between 1958 and 1967, with several years having more than five births each year. However, there were also periods of low popularity, such as from 1921 to 1945, with only a few exceptions. The name has seen a resurgence in recent years, with the highest number of births recorded in 2021 (26) and 2023 (20), suggesting that Josefine is currently quite popular. Overall, there have been a total of 669 births with the name Josefine from 1918 to 2023.