UK boy's name
Josias
Hebrew masculine name meaning "supported by God" or "God supports".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Josias is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Josias popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 7 births.
This profile covers 33 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2005 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 33 living people in the UK are called Josias. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Josias ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 7 boys were registered as Josias.
- • About 33 living people in the UK are estimated to have Josias as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2011
7 births
Estimated living
33
2026
Meaning
What does Josias mean?
The name Josias originated from the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yoshiyahu, which means "supported by Yahweh" or "Yahweh has healed." The name is a combination of two Hebrew words: "Yah," a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh, and "yoshia," meaning "to save" or "to help."
The name Josias appears in various ancient texts and religious scriptures, particularly in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Josias, also known as Josiah, was the name of a king of Judah who reigned from around 640 to 609 BCE. He is remembered for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh in the kingdom of Judah.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Josias can be found in the Book of Kings in the Bible, where it is mentioned that King Josias initiated the repair of the Temple in Jerusalem and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law during his reign.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Josias. One of the most famous was Josias Simler (1530-1576), a Swiss scholar and theologian who wrote extensively on geography and natural history. Another notable figure was Josias Annesley (1610-1696), an English Puritan minister and a prominent figure in the English Reformation.
In the 17th century, Josias Shute (1622-1643) was an English Puritan minister and a leader in the Westminster Assembly, a council that established the doctrinal standards for the Church of England. Josias Clerke (1640-1714) was an English writer and theologian who served as the rector of Bredfield in Suffolk.
In the 18th century, Josias Priest (1788-1853) was an American Baptist minister and abolitionist who worked to end slavery and discrimination against African Americans. He played a significant role in the establishment of several educational institutions for African Americans.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Josias throughout history, demonstrating its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Josias over time
The chart below shows babies named Josias registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Josias, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Josias by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Josias was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4239 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3680 | 10 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3677 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Josias
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Josias: questions and answers
How popular is the name Josias in the UK right now?
In 2024, Josias was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Josias most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 7 babies registered as Josias in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Josias?
Hebrew masculine name meaning "supported by God" or "God supports".
How many people are called Josias in the UK?
A total of 33 babies have been registered as Josias across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.