Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshua. It means "God is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." The name Joshua is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible as the successor to Moses who led the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses' death.
The name Joshua was popular among early Christians due to its biblical significance and has remained a common choice for boys throughout history. In recent years, it has been particularly prevalent in English-speaking countries such as the United States and England.
Some notable individuals with the name Joshua include:
* Joshua Norton (1818-1880), a San Francisco socialite who declared himself Emperor of the United States and protector of Mexico.
* Joshua Slocum (1844-1909), a Canadian-born American sailor who was the first person to sail alone around the world.
* Joshua Bell (born 1967), an American violinist known for his performances and recordings.
In literature, Joshua is also the name of characters in works such as "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter and "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving.
The name Joshua has seen a significant trend over the years in the United States, with periods of popularity followed by declines.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the number of births with the name Joshua was relatively low, starting with just five births in 1968. However, this number began to rise steadily, reaching 38 births in 1973 and 92 births in 1975.
The popularity of the name Joshua peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with over 200 births per year consistently from 1979 to 1984. The highest point was reached in 1984, with 266 births that year.
After this peak, the number of Joshua births began to decline, falling below 200 births per year starting in 1987. This trend continued into the 1990s and 2000s, with the number of annual Joshua births often below 50 by the late 2010s.
As of 2023, the total number of births with the name Joshua in the United States stands at 4944. Despite its decline in popularity in recent years, Joshua remains a historic and significant name choice for parents in the U.S.