Jose

Jose is a masculine given name widely used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cultures. It is the form of Joseph in these languages, derived from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning “God will increase.”

In Spanish and Portuguese, the name is written José, with the accent indicating the stressed syllable. In English-language texts it is often rendered as Jose without the diacritic. Variants include Josep (Catalan), and feminine forms such as Josefina in some contexts. Diminutives and nicknames include Pepe, Joselito, and Pepito.

The name’s prominence is reinforced by Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary in Christian tradition, which has helped entrench it in Christian communities. It is especially common in Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Philippines, reflecting historical Spanish and Portuguese influence.

Notable people bearing the name include José Rizal, a Filipino nationalist and writer; José de San Martín, an Argentine liberator; José Mourinho, a Portuguese football manager; and José Canseco, a Cuban-American baseball player. The name also appears frequently in literature, music, politics, and everyday life across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions.