Total births
1,211
Boys' name · since 1882
Josephus
Josephus has 1,211 recorded births since 1882 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1923 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,211
- total births
- 1882–2023
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Josephus sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 1,211 recorded since 1882.
Josephus has 1,211 recorded births among boys since 1882, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1882 to 2023.
- 1,211 total births
- 1882–2023 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,211 boys have been named Josephus since 1882, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2023.
- 1,211
- total births
- 1882–2023
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Josephus was born in this single decade.
1923
Single peak year
28 babies were named Josephus in 1923 - its busiest year on record.
Josephus's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Josephus splits its recorded history at 1949: 41% of all births land in the more recent half, 59% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1883 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1923 peak of 28 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Josephus at a glance
Last recorded 2023Peak year
1923
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1882
Josephus popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–2023
- Peak year (1923)
- 28
- Annual births at peak, across 142 years of records
Josephus by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Josephus's strongest decade.
206 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Josephus births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 35
1880s
35 births
- 1890s 24
1890s
24 births
- 1900s 18
1900s
18 births
- 1910s
1910s
143 births
- 1920s
1920s
206 births
- 1930s
1930s
156 births
- 1940s
1940s
157 births
- 1950s
1950s
140 births
- 1960s
1960s
94 births
- 1970s
1970s
89 births
- 1980s 59
1980s
59 births
- 1990s 46
1990s
46 births
- 2000s 21
2000s
21 births
- 2010s 12
2010s
12 births
- 2020s 11
2020s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 206 births (17% of all-time use).
How Josephus compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Josephus's total volume
Josephus vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Josephus by state
Where Josephus concentrates geographically, total births since 1882
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 44 | 3.6% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 38 | 3.1% |
| #3 | South Carolina | | 26 | 2.1% |
| #4 | Alabama | | 15 | 1.2% |
North Carolina share of Josephus's total US births 3.6%
Even split
44 of 1,211 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Josephus? ▼
Since 1882, Social Security records show 1,211 babies named Josephus. The most recent recorded year was 2023. Its busiest year on record was 1923, with 28 births.
When was Josephus most popular? ▼
Josephus was most popular in the 1920s decade with 206 total births. The single peak year was 1923.
Where is Josephus most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Josephus are North Carolina (44 births), Georgia (38 births), South Carolina (26 births).
How long has the name Josephus been used? ▼
Josephus has been recorded in Social Security data since 1882, spanning 142 years of data through 2023.
What names are similar to Josephus? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Joseph, Joshua, Jose, Josiah, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Josephus's data
- Josephus's decade-level peak was the 1920s (206 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Josephuss (44 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Josephus
Nearby Names Like Josephus
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Josephus
Joseph Boy
#32 2,669,490 births
Joshua Boy
#57 1,248,929 births
Jose Boy
#91 592,512 births
Josiah Boy
#53 148,958 births
Josue Boy
#294 57,689 births
Compare Josephus side by side: Josephus vs Joseph Josephus vs Joshua Josephus vs Jose
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1882–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Josephus: Baby Name Since 1882 - 1,211 Births, Peak 1923." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/josephus. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Josephus draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.