Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin that means "God is salvation." It is derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, which was borne by several figures in the Old Testament of the Bible, including Moses' successor and the first High Priest. The name Joshua became popular during the Middle Ages due to its association with these biblical figures. Today, it is commonly used in English-speaking countries as a boy's name but has also been used occasionally for girls. Some notable individuals named Joshua include American singer-songwriter Josh Groban and British actor Josh Hartnett.
The name Joshua has seen a significant rise in popularity over the years, particularly in the United States. According to the statistics provided, the number of births with the name Joshua fluctuated quite a bit during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ranging from as low as 17 births in 1902 to as high as 136 births in 1915. However, starting from the mid-20th century, there was a notable increase in the number of newborns named Joshua.
In 1947, there were 141 births with the name Joshua, and this number continued to rise steadily over the following decades. The peak popularity of the name Joshua occurred in 1985 when it reached an all-time high of 42,199 births that year. This trend of increased popularity persisted throughout the late 20th century until the early 21st century.
However, since around 2006, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of newborns named Joshua. As of 2023, there were only 5,035 births with the name Joshua in the United States, marking a significant decrease from its peak popularity nearly four decades ago.
Despite this recent decline, it's clear that Joshua remains a popular and enduring name for boys in the United States. Over the entire period from 1880 to 2023, there were a total of 1,238,699 newborns named Joshua in the United States. This statistic highlights the enduring appeal of this particular name among parents throughout different eras and generations.