Youssouf

Youssouf is a masculine given name widely used in Arab, Maghrebi, and Francophone African communities. It is the francophone form of the Arabic Yusuf, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Yosef. The traditional meaning associated with Yosef/Yusuf is “God will add” or “God increases.” In Islamic tradition, Yusuf is the name of a major prophet whose narrative appears in the Qur’an.

Variants and spellings include Yousef, Youcef, Youssef, Yusuf, and Youssouf; the exact form often reflects linguistic and national background. The name is especially common in the Maghreb and in Francophone Africa, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as among diaspora communities. Turkish and Persian-speaking populations use Yusuf and Yousef, respectively.

Youssouf has appeared in literature, film, and public life as a given name across cultures that honor the biblical and Qur’anic Joseph. The name’s popularity reflects shared religious and cultural heritage as well as regional naming traditions. See also: Yusuf, Yousef, Youcef, Youssef.