Josephine
Josephine is a Christian girl name of Hebrew, via French origin, meaning “God will add”.
| Meaning | God will add |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French |
| Pronunciation | JOH-seh-feen |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany |
Meaning and origin of Josephine
Josephine is the French feminine form of Joseph, which goes back to the Hebrew Yosef, 'he will add'. The name was made famous by Joséphine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon, whose real first name was Marie-Josèphe-Rose; Napoleon is said to have called her Josephine. From France the name spread across Europe and America in the nineteenth century. Singer and civil rights figure Josephine Baker is another well-known bearer.
Is Josephine a Christian name?
Josephine has a Christian background as a feminine form honouring Saint Joseph; it was popular in Catholic families, and Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese-born nun, is one modern saint with the name.
How popular is Josephine?
A vintage name that has made a clear comeback in the English-speaking world in recent years.
Gifts with the name Josephine
- Josephine name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Josephine baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Josephine
Names similar to Josephine
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Josephine mean?
Josephine means 'God will add'. It is of Hebrew, via French origin.
Is Josephine a Christian name?
Josephine has a Christian background as a feminine form honouring Saint Joseph; it was popular in Catholic families, and Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese-born nun, is one modern saint with the name.
How do you pronounce Josephine?
Josephine is pronounced JOH-seh-feen.
Is Josephine a boy or girl name?
Josephine is usually a girl name.