Total births
426
Unisex name · since 1971
Josha
Josha has 426 recorded births since 1971 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1982 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 426
- total births
- 1971–2005
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 49%
- born in that decade
Josha sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 426 recorded since 1971.
Social Security Administration records show Josha recorded 426 times among boys since 1971, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 2005.
- 426 total births
- 1971–2005 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 49% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
426 boys have been named Josha since 1971, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2005.
- 426
- total births
- 1971–2005
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 49%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
49% of everyone ever named Josha was born in this single decade.
1982
Single peak year
27 babies were named Josha in 1982 - its busiest year on record.
Josha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Josha's SSA record in two at 1987 and the more recent half accounts for 50% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 50%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1971, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1982 peak of 27, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Josha at a glance
Last recorded 2005Peak year
1982
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1971
Josha popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–2005
- Peak year (1982)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 35 years of records
Josha popularity over time - girls
28 total births recorded since 1976 (Josha as girls' name)
Josha by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Josha's strongest decade.
207 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 49% of all-time use.
Josha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 72
1970s
72 births
- 1980s
1980s
207 births
- 1990s
1990s
122 births
- 2000s 25
2000s
25 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 207 births (49% of all-time use).
Josha by state
Where Josha concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 12 | 2.8% |
| #2 | California | | 5 | 1.2% |
| #3 | New York | | 5 | 1.2% |
Texas share of Josha's total US births 2.8%
Even split
12 of 426 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Josha? ▼
Since 1971, Social Security records show 426 babies named Josha. The most recent recorded year was 2005. Its busiest year on record was 1982, with 27 births.
When was Josha most popular? ▼
Josha was most popular in the 1980s decade with 207 total births. The single peak year was 1982.
Where is Josha most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Josha are Texas (12 births), California (5 births), New York (5 births).
Is Josha a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Josha is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 426 births, and as a girl's name it has 28 births.
How long has the name Josha been used? ▼
Josha has been recorded in Social Security data since 1971, spanning 35 years of data through 2005.
What names are similar to Josha? ▼
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 Josha's data
- Josha's decade-level peak was the 1980s (207 total births); usage has since declined to 25 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Joshas (12 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Josha
Nearby Names Like Josha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Josha
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 Josha side by side: Josha vs Joseph Josha vs Joshua Josha 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, 1971–2005 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Josha: Baby Name Since 1971 - 426 Births, Peak 1982." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/josha. 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 Josha 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.