Joseph is an ancient and revered name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God shall increase'. It's prominent in biblical history, notably carried by the husband of Mary, Jesus' mother. Throughout centuries, Joseph has been popular across various cultures, including English-speaking nations.
The name Joseph experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with peaks in 1957-58 (6 births each year), 1959 (9 births), and 1986 (12 births). However, it's clear that the name's popularity has generally been in decline since its peak in the late 1950s. Between 1967 and 1979, there were only five births per year on average. Despite this, Joseph remains a classic name with a total of 144 births recorded over the specified period.