Joseph is of Hebrew origin, meaning "God shall increase." It's one of the most popular names throughout history due to its biblical prominence. In the Old Testament, Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel, known for his coat of many colors and his ability to interpret dreams. The name was also borne by Jesus' earthly father in the New Testament. The name has been adopted by various cultures worldwide, with common variants including José (Spanish), Giuseppe (Italian), Josef (German), and Yosef (Hebrew). Joseph's popularity has seen peaks and troughs over centuries, with its most recent peak in the United States being in the late 19th to early 20th century.
"The name Joseph saw a notable resurgence in popularity from 1977 onwards, with a significant increase in births between 1980 and 1981."