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.
- #8,687 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 426
- born since 1971
- 1980s
- peak 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.
- #8,687 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 426 born since 1971
- 1980s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Josha ranks #8,687 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 426 born since 1971, peaking in the 1980s.
- #8,687 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 426
- born since 1971
- 1980s
- peak decade
Josha's 426 recorded births place it above 80.88% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by Texas.
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 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
1980s is the heaviest window (207 births, 49% of the file).
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% |
12 of 426 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Josha side by side: Josha vs Joseph Josha vs Joshua Josha vs Jose
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Josha: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1982)
Similar record span (~34 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.