josePH

Joseph is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from Yosef, usually interpreted as “God will increase” or “he will add.” In the Hebrew Bible, Yosef is the favored son of Jacob and Rachel, who rises to prominence in Egypt; in the New Testament, Joseph is the husband of Mary. Saint Joseph is venerated in Christian tradition as the earthly father of Jesus and the patron saint of workers.

Variants and cognates appear in many languages, reflecting its long history of use. Hebrew forms include Yosef or Yosef; Arabic renders Yusuf; Italian Giuseppe; Spanish and Portuguese José; German Josef; Polish Józef; Croatian and Serbian Josip; Slovene Jožef, and other forms. The feminine form Josephine is common in many languages. In many contexts, diminutives such as Joe or Joey are used in English.

Notable bearers include religious figures such as Joseph, son of Jacob; Saint Joseph; and the Qur’anic Yusuf. In modern history and culture, well-known namesakes include Joseph Stalin, Joseph Smith, Joseph Pulitzer, the writer Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski), Joseph Goebbels, and mythologist Joseph Campbell. The name has been borne by athletes, politicians, writers, and scientists, reflecting its broad diffusion.

In contemporary usage, Joseph remains a common given name in many Western countries, frequently shortened to Joe or Joey. It also appears as a surname in some cases and has produced numerous derivative forms and nicknames across cultures.