
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Josiah
Josiah comes from the Hebrew word ‘Yoshiyahu,’ which means ‘Yahwe/Jehovah supports.’ According to the Old Testament, Josiah is the 16th Ruler of Judah who died fighting the Egyptians at Megiddo. As a righteous king, he was a religious reformer who brought importance to the God Yahweh.
According to the Bible, he was a morally upright king who followed the way of King David. In Matthew’s Gospel, Josiah is mentioned as one of the two genealogies of Jesus. The Book of Law, an early version of the Book of Deuteronomy, was found during his tenure as the ruler, and he later commissioned the repair of Solomon’s Temple.
Some accounts say that the name Josiah also meant God of salvation. This title became popular in Europe after the Protestant Reformation movement pioneered by Martin Luther. Josiah is also known as Yoshiyahu in Biblical Hebrew and Iosias in Biblical Latin and Greek. Hence, this name is associated with religious values and good moral conduct.
The name also had an impact on pop culture. Josiah Bounderby of Coketown is a wealthy character in the tenth novel by Charles Dickens titled ‘Hard Times.’ He is boastful and claims to be a self-made man. In recent memories, Josiah Edward Bartlet, or Jed Bartlet, is a fictional character in the hit TV series The West Wing. The role played by Michael Sheen won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for Television Series Drama in 2001.
Josiah Power is a fictional superhero in DC Comics, known for his superhuman rock form. Josiah X is another comic superhero in the Marvel Comics universe known as one of the genetically-engineered super soldiers. Another character is Josiah Trelawny in the video game Red Dead Redemption series by Rockstar Games. Josiah Carberry is a fictional Brown University professor created in 1929 as a comedic relief and is known for studying cracked pots.
How To Pronounce Josiah?
Famous People With The Name Josiah
- Josiah TuckAmerican inventor known as a pioneer of submarine design
- Josiah RoyceAmerican philosopher and the founder of American Idealism
- Josiah JudahAmerican boxer who competes in the Light heavyweight category and the brother of Zab Judah and Daniel Judah
- Josiah LemingAmerican singer/songwriter known for his performance in the season 7 of the American Idol
- Josiah DidierAmerican ice-hockey player currently playing for Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL)
- Josiah DeguaraAmerican footballer who plays for Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL)
Josiah On The Popularity Chart
Josiah is a classic religious name that continues to grow in popularity. It has been on a steady rise since the 1980s and remains a favorite among parents due to its religious significance. Study its popularity with the chart below.
Popularity Over Time
Josiah had a few takers in the 1980s. However, since the mid-1990s, it had grown exponentially to reach its peak in 2017, when it averaged 7051 babies per million being given this name.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Josiah has been a preferred name for baby boys for years, and it continues to do so. Despite being an ancient name, this title is still relevant and trendy. However, as of 2021, it sits on the 17593rd rank.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Josiah
There are plenty of variations for the name Josiah. However, you can consider some of the suggestions below that sound just like Josiah.
Names With Similar Meaning As Josiah
If you are looking for a different name with similar meanings as Josiah, here are some options. Scroll down and take your pick.
Name Numerology For Josiah


