Joshua is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It means "God is salvation" or "God saves". In the Bible, Joshua was a major prophet and the successor to Moses as leader of the Israelites. He led them into the Promised Land after they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, similar to how Moses parted the Red Sea. The name Joshua has been popular among Christians since biblical times but has also gained popularity in recent years among people of various faiths. It is often shortened to Josh or Joshy and can be paired with a variety of middle names and surnames. Despite its biblical roots, Joshua remains a timeless and universal name choice for boys today.
Statistics on the name Josua:
The name Josua has had varying popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 768 births recorded between 1971 and 2020.
In the early 1970s, the name saw an average of around 10 births per year. However, it gained some traction in the late 1970s to early 1980s, with a peak of 49 births recorded in 1986. This trend continued into the mid-1980s, with 50 births recorded in 1987.
The popularity of the name Josua began to decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with fewer than 25 births recorded each year between 1991 and 1995. This downward trend continued into the new millennium, with less than 20 births recorded per year between 2000 and 2010.
More recently, the name Josua has seen a slight resurgence in popularity, with 8 births recorded in 2020. Overall, while the name Josua has had its peaks and troughs in popularity over the years, it remains a relatively uncommon name in the United States.