Name meaning & stats
Josef
Josef means “(God) shall add” (Hebrew origin). 8,645 US babies since 1940, peak 1999. Notable Josefs are 1.6× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“(God) shall add”
HebrewForm of Joseph
In US birth records
Peak year: 1999
8,645 US babies were named Josef between 1940 and 2025.
Where Josefs end up
Not enough notable Josefs yet, so this uses the spelling family: Joseph, Josef.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.4× | High · 266 people |
| Professor | 1.6× | High · 180 people |
| Actor | 1.0× | High · 151 people |
| Basketball player | 0.9× | High · 118 people |
Among notable men who are professors, the Joseph family show up 1.6× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Josef has a surprise career: 2.3×
Spelling family
1 in 231 Josephs spell it Josef
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1999)