Joshua is a male given name of Hebrew origin. It means "God is salvation" or "Yahweh is salvation". The name Joshua is derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, which consists of the elements Yeho (which means "God") and shua (which means "salvation"). Joshua is a significant figure in the Bible, as he was the successor to Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land after their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The name Joshua has been popular throughout history and has been borne by many notable figures, including Joshua Norton, who declared himself Emperor of the United States in the 19th century, and Joshua Foge, a prominent American football coach. Today, Joshua remains a popular choice for parents looking for a strong and meaningful name for their sons.
The name Joshua has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. Between 1974 and 2008, there were a total of 266 babies born with this name. The peak years for Joshua's popularity were between 1985 and 1991, during which time there were more than 15 births per year. Specifically, in 1985 there were 19 births, reaching its highest point of 22 births in 1989. However, after 1991, the popularity of Joshua began to decline and remained stable at around 7 births per year until 1999. After a slight uptick in 2007 with 6 births, the name Joshua's popularity decreased again to just 5 births in 2008.
It is interesting to note that although Joshua was not one of the most popular names during this period, it still maintained a consistent presence, with at least one baby being named Joshua every year between 1974 and 2008. This suggests that while Joshua may not have been a trendy name, it has remained a classic choice among parents in the United States for several generations.