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The short answer
Joshua is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh is salvation". Behind the Name traces it to the Hebrew Yehoshuaʿ, from yeho (a reference to the Hebrew God) and yashaʿ ("to save"). In the Old Testament Joshua was Moses' companion, one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan, and Moses' successor who led the conquest of Canaan; his original name was Hoshea. The same entry notes that the name Jesus comes from a Greek transcription of the Aramaic short form Yeshuaʿ. Joshua has been used as an English name since the Protestant Reformation and ranked #66 for boys in the United States in 2025. Josh is the usual short form.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Joshua as "from the Hebrew name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshuaʿ) meaning 'Yahweh is salvation', from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning 'to save'". The entry recounts the Old Testament story: Joshua accompanied Moses up Mount Sinai, was one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan, succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites and led the conquest of Canaan; his original name was Hoshea. It also states that the name Jesus "comes from a Greek transcription of the Aramaic short form יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshuaʿ)", so Joshua and Jesus are ultimately the same name. As an English name Joshua has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | יְהוֹ (yeho) | referring to the Hebrew God (Yahweh) |
| Hebrew | יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) | to save |
| Hebrew | יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshuaʿ) | Yahweh is salvation |
Popularity
Joshua ranked #66 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name notes only that the name has been in English use since the Protestant Reformation; no historical US trend or other national rankings were checked in this pass.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #66 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Josh
Variants: Josué, Jozua, Giosuè, Józsua, Josu, Yehoshua, Yeshua, Iosue
Related names: Jesus, Hoshea, Isa, Josiah
What the name feels like
Joshua is a warm, three-syllable biblical classic with a soft sh at its centre and an easy built-in nickname. It has the settled feel of a name that has been in continuous English use for centuries, which makes it read as safe and familiar rather than trendy.
Style tags: biblical, classic, three syllables, familiar nickname
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Josh is the diminutive documented by Behind the Name; no other nicknames are claimed.
If you like this name
Names that share Joshua's Old Testament background, its soft sound, or its Hebrew root (editorial suggestions).
Similar by origin
Similar by meaning
- Jesus
- Josué
- Isa
- Yeshua
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joshua mean?
Joshua means "Yahweh is salvation". Behind the Name derives it from the Hebrew Yehoshuaʿ, from yeho (referring to the Hebrew God) and yashaʿ ("to save").
Are Joshua and Jesus the same name?
They share the same Hebrew source. Behind the Name states that Jesus comes from a Greek transcription of Yeshuaʿ, the Aramaic short form of Yehoshuaʿ, the name that gives English Joshua.
How popular is Joshua?
Joshua ranked #66 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data. Josh is its common short form.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Joshua — supports etymology, biblical bearer, relationship to Jesus, diminutive, variants, Reformation-era usage.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
