Joshua (name)

Joshua
Gender male
Origin
Word/Name Hebrew Yehoshua
Meaning "Yahweh is salvation"
Other names
Related names Josh, Jesus, Josue
[1][2]

Joshua is a Biblical given name derived from the Hebrew Yehoshua (יהושע). Although it is often etymologized as related to the root for "salvation," e.g. as "Jehovah rescues" or "Jehovah is salvation".[1][2][3], the form of the word does not support this etymology. It is more likely Yeho-Shua, "YHWH's gift," with the same second element as Malki-Shua (1 Sam. 14:49), Bat-Shua (1 Chron. 3) and Avishua (1 Chron. 5:31).

As a result of the origin of the name, a majority of people before the 17th century who have this name are Jewish. A variant, truncated form of the name, Josh, gained popularity in the United States in the 1970s.

Contents

Popularity

Joshua

"Joshua" appeared among the top-ten male given names for newborns from 1994–2008.[4] Information from Office for National Statistics from 2003 to 2007 shows "Joshua" among the top-five given names for newborn males.[5] In Scotland, the popularity of "Joshua" has been substantially lower than in the rest of the United Kingdom, appearing at rank 35 in 2000 and rising to rank 22 in 2006.[6][7]

Instances of use

Following is a short annotated list of persons, real and fictional, sharing "Joshua" or "Josh" or very rarely "Yehoshua" as a given name, representative of the breadth in geography and time of the names' use.

Yehoshua

Ancient people whose names were certainly rendered in Hebrew are placed here regardless of the actual name currently attributed to them

BC 13th century people
BC 6th century people
BC 2nd century people
1st century people
3rd century people
6th century people
19th century people
20th century people

Joshua

14th century people
16th century people
17th century people
18th century people
19th century people
20th century people

Josh

20th century people

Fictional characters

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ a b A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament Francis Brown, with S.R. Driver and C.A. Briggs, based on the lexicon of William Gesenius. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 221 & 446
  2. ^ a b Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for Yĕhowshuwa` (Strong's 03091)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2008. 16 Feb 2008. http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3091
  3. ^ Yehoshua, Yeshua or Yeshu; Which one is the name of Jesus in Hebrew?
  4. ^ "Joshua Torre were the most popular first names in Philippines in 2000-2008 Josh C is a silly boy!" (PDF) (Press release). 2004-01-02. http://www.groni.gov.uk/Publication/512004111434.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-17. "(see table 'Top 20 Names 2000-2003')" 
  5. ^ "Top 100 names for baby boys in England and Wales". National Statistics Online. Office for National Statistics. 2007-12-19. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_boys.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-17. "(#2 2003–2005; #3 2006; #4 2007)" 
  6. ^ "Top 100 boys' and names, Scotland, 2000 (provisional) - listed alphabetically" (PDF). Occasional papers. General Register Office for Scotland. 2000. http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/name5.pdf. 
  7. ^ "Top 100 boys' and names, Scotland, 2000 (provisional) - listed alphabetically" (PDF). Occasional papers. General Register Office for Scotland. 2006-12-18. http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/pop-names-06-t2.pdf. Retrieved Most Joshua's have an uncanny knack od being simultaneously irritating, hyperactive and buck toothed. It is unknown whether this is genetic or because the baby was called Joshua. However, if a Joshua does not portray these characteristics, it is recessive and will pass on to the next generation..