The story behind Joshua
From Biblical Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshúa'), perhaps from הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshéa') with addition of יהוה (YHWH, “Yahweh”), thus meaning "Yahweh is salvation". See הוֹשִׁיעַ (hoshía', “to save”). By cognate a direct equivalent to Jesus via Latin Iēsūs and Ancient Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs) from Aramaic יֵשׁוּע (Yēšū́ʿ), akin to Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshúa'), a variant of Yehoshúa'. The Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament consistently render the two Hebrew names Yehoshúa' (whence Joshua) and Yeshúa' (whence Jeshua) into Koine Greek as Iēsoûs (whence Jesus).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Spanish entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Joshua. Doublet of Josué.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Joshua, from Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (yəhôšūaʿ).
Pronunciation
US: /ˈd͡ʒɑʃ(j)u.ə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈd͡ʒɒʃ(j)ʊə/
- Spanish: /ˈʝoʃwa/
- Spanish: [ˈɟ͡ʝo.ʃwa]
- Spanish: /ˈʃoʃwa/
- Spanish: [ˈʃo.ʃwa]
- Spanish: /ˈʒoʃwa/
- Spanish: [ˈʒo.ʃwa]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈd͡ʒoʃwa/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈd͡ʒoʃ.wɐ]
- Tagalog: /ˈdjoswa/
- Tagalog: [ˈd̪jos.wɐ]
Popularity
Joshua ranked #66 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Joshua
Jana
From Czech Jana, ultimately from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Janna
A female given name from Hebrew, a fanciful modern variant of Jane.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Joana
Borrowed from Latin Joanna, from Ancient Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה. Doublet of Ivana, Giovana, and Jeane. Borrowed from Spanish Juana.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Joanna
From Latin Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jŏrjiyā
Borrowed from English Georgia.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Ā
- same syllable count
- similar length
Joṣua
Borrowed from English Joshua.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Joshua
Barnaba
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from the Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”). Derived from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barnabas
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Aramaic בַרְנֶבֻאָה (barneḇú’â, literally “prophet's son”), from בּר (bar, “son of”) and נְבִיָּא (nəḇiyyā, “prophet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barnabáš
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Š
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Joshua
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length