Name meaning & stats
Joshua
Joshua means “Yahweh is salvation”. 1,249,870 US babies since 1940, peak 1989. Notable Joshuas are 2.0× over-represented as basketball players.
What it means
“Yahweh is salvation”
Well documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1989
1,249,870 US babies were named Joshua between 1940 and 2025.
Where Joshuas end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball player | 2.0× | High · 86 people |
| Actor | 1.2× | High · 56 people |
| Politician | 0.8× | High · 45 people |
| Footballer | 0.8× | High · 42 people |
Among notable men who are basketball players, Joshuas show up 2.0× 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.
Spelling family
Joshua is the main spelling
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1989)