Josephine

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Josephine

Gender: Feminine
Language: English and French
Etymology:
Josephine is English and French feminine form of Joseph, the English form of a Hebrew name, Yosef, or Iuceph. Originally it meant “May Jehovah Add,” or “Jehovah has added.”

History:
Josephe of Josepha were the original French and English feminine forms of Joseph.

Josephine was originally a pet name, a diminutive form of the French Joséphe. Napoleon’s first wife was known as the Empress Josephine, although her original name was Marie-Joséphe-Rose. Josephine became the standard feminine form of Joseph, while Josephe, and Josepha faded. Josephine was very popular in the 19th century.
Josette first appeared in the English speaking world in the 20th century.

Pronunciation: JO-seff-een.

Diminutives: Fifi.
English: Jo, Josie, Josette, Josey, Posey, Posy.
French: Josette.
Irish Gaelic: Seosaimhín.
Scottish: Joina.
Spanish: Pepita, Pepa.

Alternates: Josepha, Josephina, Josophine, Jolene, Joleen, Joetta, Joette.
French: Josephé, Josée.
Hawaiian: Iokepine.
Italian: Giuseppina.
Portuguese: Josefa.
Spanish: Josefa, Josefina, Josefine.

See also: Jo, Jodi, Josefina, Jody, Posey.

Masculine: Joseph.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Josephine Preston Peabody (1874-1922)
American writer.
Josephine Tey (Elizabeth Mackintosh) (1897-1952)
Scottish author.
Josephine Bell (Doris Bell ball) (1897-1987)
English author.
Josephine Humphreys (1945-)
American novelist.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Josephine Sophia White Griffing (1814-1872)
American social reformer.
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842-1924)
American civil rights leader.
Josephine Shaw Lowell (1843-1905)
American social reformer.
Josephine Marshall Jewell Dodge (1855-1928)
American educator. Worked to establish day cares.
Josephine Clara Goldmark (1877-1950)
American reformer.
Josephine Patterson Albright (1913-1996)
American journalist.

Fictional Characters:
Josephine “Jo” March (1868)
From Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

Miscellaneous:
Josephine Louise Le Monnier Newcomb (1816-1901)
American philanthropist.
Josephine Holt Perfect Bay (1900-1962)
American financier.

Royalty:
Empress Joséphine (1763-1814)
First wife of Napoleon.

Singers and Entertainers:
Josephine Baker (1906-1975)
American dancer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.177 % named Josephine
0.083 % named Jo
0.028 % named Josefina
0.024 % named Josie
0.019 % named Jolene
0.010 % named Josefa
0.005 % named Josette
0.004 % named Josephina
0.004 % named Joleen
0.003 % named Joetta
0.001 % named Giuseppina
0.001 % named Joette
0.001 % named Josefine

Popularity of Josephine:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 34th most popular.
1875: 36th most popular.
1900-1910: 33rd most popular.
1910-1920: 23rd most popular.
1920-1930: 32nd most popular.
1930-1940: 66th most popular.
1940-1950: 121st most popular.
1950-1960: 199th most popular.
1960-1970: 300th most popular.
1970-1980: 427th most popular.
1980-1990: 440th most popular.
1990: 435th most popular.
1991: 417th most popular.
1992: 427th most popular.
1993: 432nd most popular.
1994: 387th most popular.
1995: 365th most popular.
1996: 367th most popular.
1997: 353rd most popular.
1998: 345th most popular.
1999: 312th most popular.
2000: 288th most popular.
2001: 271st most popular.
2002: 262nd most popular.
2003: 260th most popular.

In France...
1900: 13th most popular.
1910: 25th most popular.
1920: 36th most popular.
1930: 64th most popular.
1940: 107th most popular.
1950: 172nd most popular.
1960: 175th most popular.
1966: 175th most popular.
1970-1990: N/A
1992: 180th most popular.
2000: 125th most popular.

Popularity of Josie:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 173rd most popular.
1875: 116th most popular.
1900-1910: 254th most popular.
1910-1920: 288th most popular.
1920-1930: 338th most popular.
1930-1940: 349th most popular.
1940-1950: 417th most popular.
1950-1960: 599th most popular.
1960-1970: 724th most popular.
1970-1980: 926th most popular.
1980-1990: 708th most popular.
1990: 656th most popular.
1991: 666th most popular.
1992: 647th most popular.
1993: 606th most popular.
1994: 453rd most popular.
1995: 375th most popular.
1996: 350th most popular.
1997: 370th most popular.
1998: 357th most popular.
1999: 341st most popular.
2000: 328th most popular.
2001: 284th most popular.
2002: 284th most popular.
2003: 309th most popular.

Popularity of Jolene:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 686th most popular.
1940-1950: 532nd most popular.
1950-1960: 409th most popular.
1960-1970: 454th most popular.
1970-1980: 356th most popular.
1980-1990: 410th most popular.
1990-2000: 860th most popular.
1990: 818th most popular.
1991: 883rd most popular.
1992: N/A
1993: 969th most popular.
1994: N/A

Popularity of Josefa:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 392nd most popular.
1910-1920: 454th most popular.
1920-1930: 529th most popular.
1930-1940: 570th most popular.
1940-1950: 828th most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Josette:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 829th most popular.
1970-1980: 982nd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

In France...
1900-1910: N/A
1912: 179th most popular.
1920: 70th most popular.
1930: 26th most popular.
1940: 9th most popular.
1950: 22nd most popular.
1960: 84th most popular.
1967: 168th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A