Josiah is a name of Hebrew origin and its meaning is "God supports" or "God will support". It is derived from the Hebrew words Yoshia, which means "to heal", and Elohim, which refers to God.
The name Josiah appears in the Old Testament of the Bible as the name of one of the kings of Judah. According to the biblical narrative, King Josiah was a reformer who restored the worship of God in his kingdom and purified it from idolatry. He is considered one of the most pious kings of Judah.
In terms of its usage as a given name, Josiah has been relatively uncommon compared to other names of Hebrew origin such as David or Samuel. However, it has seen some increase in popularity in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Overall, Josiah is a name with a rich historical and biblical significance that carries the positive connotation of divine support and healing.
Statistics for the name Josia in the United States show that it was given to 5 babies in the year 2001. While this number may seem small, it is important to note that Josia remains a unique and distinctive name choice. It's possible that parents choose Josia because they wish their child to stand out from the crowd or perhaps they have a personal connection to the name. Regardless of the reason behind its selection, the fact that 5 families opted for Josia in a single year demonstrates that there is appreciation for this name among some parents in the United States.