Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Josephine

The English adopted the name Josephine from Joséphine which is the French equivalent of the Hebrew name “Yosef” (Joseph). The original Hebrew name translates to “(God) shall add (another son).” This is a fitting translation, as Joseph was the eleventh son of Israel (Jacob) from the book of Genesis. Joseph was also the most favored son that “[Israel/Jacob] made him a robe of many colors” because he was “the son of his old age” (Genesis 37:3). There are two notable bearers of the name: Joséphine Bonaparte who became the first Empress of France, and Josephine Baker, an African-American singer and dancer who found fame (and a home) in France. For more information on these illustrious ladies, see the “People of Historical Significance” section below.

All About the Baby Name – Josephine

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME JOSEPHINE

The number 11 is a Master Number, and embodies heightened traits of the Two. This personality is on a life journey to find spiritual truth. They are extremely idealistic and intuitive. Elevens have a rare and exceptional spiritual energy that brings a sense of obligation to illuminate the world around them. It's a very powerful responsibility, but these people have far more potential than they know. It's important that they surrender to higher ideals. They have the capacity to see the bigger picture, and they possess the skills to inspire others spiritually. Elevens have strong diplomatic skills and can become great peacemakers. Master numbers can be both a blessing and a curse, as they walk the fine line between greatness and the potential for self-destruction.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME JOSEPHINE

Like Jacqueline, Josephine is a quintessential French female name which automatically infuses it with elegance and sophistication. The high-point of Josephine’s popularity in the United States is well behind us. The name was a favorite choice at the turn of the 20th century more than 100 years ago. In fact, Josephine held a position on the Top 50 list of most commonly used girl’s names for 50 straight years (from 1880-1930). It wasn’t until 1943 that the name fell off the Top 100 list. The name’s low-point on the charts came in 1987 at position #498 (very low usage). Fortunately, the name has been experiencing a comeback in the past 20 years. Josephine just managed to reappear on the Top 200 list and we hope to see her continue to climb the charts. The name is far too lovely and feminine to neglect. If anything, we hope that the “Lord increases” the usage of this pretty name!

Quick Facts

ON JOSEPHINE

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

160

PRONUNCIATION:

JOH-seh-feen

SIMPLE MEANING:

May God add, the Lord increases

Characteristics

OF JOSEPHINE

Inspirational

Highly Intuitive

Spiritual Teacher

Extremely Bright

Uplifting

Truth-seeker

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Josephine

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME JOSEPHINE

Lucy is the eponymous heroine of Jamaica Kincaid’s 1990 novella, Lucy, about a young Caribbean woman who travels to the United States to become an au pair for the children of a wealthy white family. As a newcomer and foreigner adjusting to her new home, Lucy is beset by the demons of her past in the British-colonized islands, a past in which she felt neither valued nor recognized. Through the new relationships she forges and her experiences as an immigrant, Lucy comes to a new level of self-awareness and developing fulfillment, open and ready for what lies ahead.

Josephine Anwhistle is Aunt Josephine of the Lemony Snicket’s series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, who is introduced in the third of the series, The Wide Window. The three Baudelaire orphans are placed with her, and promptly fall into another succession of wild adventures. First of all, Josephine isn’t really an aunt – she is their second cousin’s sister-in-law – that’s much removed! She lives in an unheated little house on stilts overlooking a lake, she is afraid of most of the household appliances, and her greatest passion in life is proper grammar. Every kid’s dream, right? Needless to say, the three little Baudelaires are up to the task. And after the 2004 movie, it is impossible to think of Aunt Josephine without seeing Meryl Streep.

Josephine March is, of course, our beloved “Jo” of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868/9 classic, Little Women, and the alter-ego for her author. She has inspired young girls for generations, both through the book(s) and the several movie versions. For her place and time, Jo was truly a tomboy – she wants to go off to the Civil War, she is a mild cusser, she loves to run, she has a temper, she is outspoken, she writes swashbuckling plays – in short, she does everything that a well bred Victorian era girl should not do. That’s why we love her. She is like a breath of fresh air in a stifling room; in truth, she outshines her sisters, Meg the good, Amy the vain, and Beth the so-angelic-she-has-to-die young. She is ambitious and creative, and determined not to let the social restrictions of her times cheat her out of reaching for the stars, and we’re all grateful to her.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME JOSEPHINE

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Josephine


Popular Songs

ON JOSEPHINE

Goodnight Sweet Josephine
a song by The Yardbirds

Hello, Josephine
a song by Fats Domino

Josephine
a song by Tori Amos

My Girl Josephine
a song by Fats Domino

Not Tonight Josephine
a song by Slade

Oh Josephine
a song by The Black Crowes

Ride on Josephine
a song by Bo Diddley

Yes Tonight Josephine
a song by Johnnie Ray

Famous People

NAMED JOSEPHINE

Joséphine de Beauharnais (first Empress of the French, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte)
Josephine Baker (actress, singer, dancer)
Josephine Hopper (wife and model of painter Edward Hopper)
Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (former Princess of Belgium)
Josephine of Leuchtenberg (Queen consort of Sweden)
Joséphine de Beauharnais (first Empress of the French, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte)
Josephine Baker (actress, singer, dancer)
Josephine Hopper (wife and model of painter Edward Hopper)
Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (former Princess of Belgium)
Josephine of Leuchtenberg (Queen consort of Sweden)
Joséphine de Beauharnais (first Empress of the French, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte)
Josephine Baker (actress, singer, dancer)
Josephine Hopper (wife and model of painter Edward Hopper)
Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (former Princess of Belgium)
Josephine of Leuchtenberg (Queen consort of Sweden)

Children of Famous People

NAMED JOSEPHINE

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Josephine

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME JOSEPHINE

Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri to a single black woman (her father was probably a white man of German ancestry for whom her mother had worked); Josephine had great struggles as a child. At the age of eight she was sent to work for an abusive woman who burned her hand when the young girl put too much soap in the laundry. She ran away to the slums of St. Louis at the age of 12 and would eventually make her way to New York during the Harlem Renaissance of the early 1920s. It was at this point that she found her talent as a performer and would try her luck in Paris. It was there in Paris that Josephine Baker would find instant success as an erotic dancer and was nicknamed the “Bronze Venus” and the “Black Pearl.” Even the American “ex-pat” living in France Ernest Hemingway described her as "… the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.” The French loved Josephine and she loved them right back. During WWII, Josephine aided the French Resistance by carrying secret messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music across France (she would become the first American-born woman to receive the French military honor Croix de guerre for her war efforts) . She was one brave lady. Josephine Baker was truly a pioneer among African-Americans and an inspiration to all.

Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri to a single black woman (her father was probably a white man of German ancestry for whom her mother had worked); Josephine had great struggles as a child. At the age of eight she was sent to work for an abusive woman who burned her hand when the young girl put too much soap in the laundry. She ran away to the slums of St. Louis at the age of 12 and would eventually make her way to New York during the Harlem Renaissance of the early 1920s. It was at this point that she found her talent as a performer and would try her luck in Paris. It was there in Paris that Josephine Baker would find instant success as an erotic dancer and was nicknamed the “Bronze Venus” and the “Black Pearl.” Even the American “ex-pat” living in France Ernest Hemingway described her as "… the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.” The French loved Josephine and she loved them right back. During WWII, Josephine aided the French Resistance by carrying secret messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music across France (she would become the first American-born woman to receive the French military honor Croix de guerre for her war efforts) . She was one brave lady. Josephine Baker was truly a pioneer among African-Americans and an inspiration to all.

Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri to a single black woman (her father was probably a white man of German ancestry for whom her mother had worked); Josephine had great struggles as a child. At the age of eight she was sent to work for an abusive woman who burned her hand when the young girl put too much soap in the laundry. She ran away to the slums of St. Louis at the age of 12 and would eventually make her way to New York during the Harlem Renaissance of the early 1920s. It was at this point that she found her talent as a performer and would try her luck in Paris. It was there in Paris that Josephine Baker would find instant success as an erotic dancer and was nicknamed the “Bronze Venus” and the “Black Pearl.” Even the American “ex-pat” living in France Ernest Hemingway described her as "… the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.” The French loved Josephine and she loved them right back. During WWII, Josephine aided the French Resistance by carrying secret messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music across France (she would become the first American-born woman to receive the French military honor Croix de guerre for her war efforts) . She was one brave lady. Josephine Baker was truly a pioneer among African-Americans and an inspiration to all.