Josephine is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Latin name "Josephus," which means "may God increase" or "God shall add." The name Josephine was popularized by Napoleon Bonaparte, who named his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais after this name.
The name Josephine has been used throughout history and has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Joséphine de Beauharnais, also known as Empress Joséphine, who was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She played a significant role in the French Revolution and was a prominent figure in European politics during the early 19th century.
Another well-known Josephine is Josephine Baker, an American-born French entertainer, dancer, and singer who became famous for her performances in France during the 1920s and 1930s. She was known for her exotic dance routines and was a symbol of the jazz age. She was also a civil rights activist and fought against racism throughout her career.
In literature, Josephine is also the name of the main character in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" by Ernest J. Gaines. The novel follows the life of Jane Pittman, who lives to be over 110 years old and is known as "Tante Joey" or Aunt Josephine.
Overall, Josephine is a classic feminine name with a rich history and several notable bearers throughout history. Its meaning, "may God increase," makes it a name that has been popular for centuries and continues to be used today.
The given statistics track the annual birth counts of babies named Josephine in the United States from 1880 to 2023. Over this period spanning nearly 143 years, we can observe several trends and patterns.
From 1880 to around 1927, there was a steady increase in the number of newborn girls named Josephine each year. The birth counts started at 544 in 1880 and peaked at 8682 births in 1918, indicating that Josephine was a popular name during this era.
However, beginning around 1927, we see a consistent decline in the popularity of the name Josephine. The birth counts drop significantly from 6108 in 1927 to a low of 2324 births in 1944. This trend continues through the 1950s and 1960s, with fewer than 1000 babies named Josephine born each year between 1959 and 1969.
The name Josephine begins to regain some popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with birth counts ranging from around 400 to 600 per year. This upward trend continues into the 1990s and 2000s, with over 1500 babies named Josephine born each year between 2003 and 2017.
In recent years, Josephine's popularity has continued to grow. From 2018 to 2023, there have been over 3000 births of girls named Josephine each year in the United States. In 2022 alone, there were 3257 babies named Josephine born, marking a significant increase compared to previous decades.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate that while Josephine was once a highly popular name, its popularity declined significantly during the mid-20th century. However, in recent years, Josephine has experienced a resurgence in popularity among American parents, with thousands of newborn girls receiving this name each year.