The story behind Josephine
From French Joséphine, diminutive of Josèphe, feminine form of Joseph. By surface analysis, Joseph + -ine. Popularized in English by Josephine Bonaparte, the empress of Napoleonic France.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈd͡ʒoʊ.sə.fiːn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒəʊ.zə.fiːn/
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒəʊ.sə.fiːn/
- General-American: /ˈd͡ʒoʊ.zə.fiːn/
Popularity
Josephine ranked #53 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Josephine
Jacqueline
From French Jacqueline, a feminine diminutive form of Jacques (“James”), from Hebrew יעקב (ya'akóv, “Jacob”), from the root עקב (‘akev, “heel”)}}, because the biblical…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alexandre
Borrowed from French Alexandre and Portuguese Alexandre. Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Alexandre, from Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros).…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Angeline
Borrowed from French Angeline. By surface analysis, Angela + -ine. Piecewise doublet of Angelina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anne-Marie
Borrowed from French Anne-Marie.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Antoinette
From French Antoinette, feminine diminutive of Antoine, equivalent to Anthony.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Augustine
From Latin Augustīnus, derivative of Augustus. Doublet of Austin. From French Augustine, from Latin Augustīna. Doublet of Augustina. Learned borrowing from Latin Augustīna.…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Josephine
Abelardo
Borrowed from French Abélard.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adelajda
Borrowed from French Adélaïde.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adele
Borrowed from French Adèle, equivalent of Adela, from a Germanic root meaning “noble”. Compare athel, German edel, Old English æþele. From French Adèle. Borrowed from French…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Josephine
Abelardo
Borrowed from French Abélard.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adelajda
Borrowed from French Adélaïde.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Algernon
From Old French als gernons (“having mustaches”), from als (contraction of a and les) + gernon, variant of grenon (“mustache”), from Vulgar Latin *granonem (“facial hair,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length