UK girl's name
Josy
A feminine name of French origin meaning "God will add/increase.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Josy is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Josy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2019 to 2019. 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.
Josy is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Josy. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Josy ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 3 girls were registered as Josy.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Josy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2019
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Josy mean?
The name Josy is a diminutive form of the name Josephine, which has its origins in the French language. Josephine itself is derived from the Hebrew name Joseph, meaning "he will add" or "he will increase." The name Joseph has a long and rich history, dating back to biblical times.
In the Old Testament, Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob and one of the most prominent figures in the Book of Genesis. He was known for his ability to interpret dreams and his role in helping Egypt prepare for a seven-year famine. The name Joseph gained popularity among early Christians and has been widely used across various cultures and languages.
The name Josy emerged as a shortened version of Josephine, a feminine form of Joseph that gained popularity in France during the 17th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Josy can be found in the 18th century, when it was used as a pet name for Josephine.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Josy. One such person was Josy Lévy (1892-1975), a French actress and singer who performed in various stage productions and films during the early 20th century. Another notable Josy was Josy Bjelica (1922-1984), a Serbian actress and dancer who gained recognition for her performances in Yugoslav films.
In the literary world, Josy appears in the novel "The Daughter of Time" by Josephine Tey, published in 1951. The novel features a character named Josy, though it is not explicitly stated whether this is a first name or a nickname.
The name Josy has also been associated with historical figures from various fields. For example, Josy Samake (1924-2008) was a Malian politician and diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and France.
Additionally, Josy Biard (1924-2010) was a French tennis player who competed in the 1950s and 1960s, winning several doubles titles at Grand Slam tournaments. Her achievements contributed to the popularity of the name Josy in certain regions of France during that era.
While the name Josy may not be as common as some other diminutives or variations of Josephine, it has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals across various walks of life, from the arts to politics and sports.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Josy by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Josy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5591 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Josy
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Josy: questions and answers
How popular is the name Josy in the UK right now?
In 2019, Josy was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Josy most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 3 babies registered as Josy in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Josy?
A feminine name of French origin meaning "God will add/increase.".
How many people are called Josy in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Josy across the 1 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.