Name meaning & stats
Josh
Josh (English origin). 15,468 US babies since 1940, peak 1979. Notable Joshs are 2.1× over-represented as baseball players.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
English
A short form of Joshua.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1979
15,468 US babies were named Josh between 1940 and 2025. Josh is often a nickname, so many people called Josh are registered under a longer name.
Where Joshs end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.9× | High · 161 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.9× | High · 151 people |
| Actor | 1.2× | High · 84 people |
| Baseball player | 2.1× | High · 83 people |
Among notable men who are baseball players, Joshs show up 2.1× 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…
Josh has a surprise career: 2.1×
Spelling family
1 in 37 Joses spell it Josh
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1979)