Josephine is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

. It is the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

version of the French name Joséphine. In Greece, the female name Josephine is Io̱si̱fína and used mainly on the island of Crete. The feminine form of the name

Joseph Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

, which is taken from the

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

name Yosef, meaning "(

YHWH The Tetragrammaton (; ), or Tetragram, is the four-letter Hebrew theonym (transliterated as YHWH), the name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The four letters, written and read from right to left (in Hebrew), are ''yodh'', '' he'', '' waw'', and ...

) shall grow."

Variations

Originally a diminutive form of the French name ''Joséphe'', Joséphine became the standard form in the 19th century, replacing ''Joséphe'', which eventually became a very rare name. In 2017, Josephine was the 107th most popular girls' baby name in the US. Diminutive forms of this name include Fifi, Jo, Josie, Joetta and Jojo. Other language variants include the Irish version Seosaimhín, the Spanish version Josefina or Josephina, and the Greek version Iosiphina (

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

: Ιωσηφίνα). Alternate spellings include Yosefina and Gosefine. The Swedish version is Josefine. The name started gaining popularity after 1800 due to the high profile of

Joséphine de Beauharnais Josephine may refer to: People * Josephine (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Josephine (singer), a Greek pop singer Places *Josephine, Texas, United States *Mount Josephine (disambiguation) * Josephine Cou ...

, a French noblewoman who became

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

's mistress and later his wife and Empress of the French.

Translations

* جوزفين (Arabic) * * ג'וזפין (Hebrew) * Жазэфіна, Žazefina (Belarusian) * Josefina, Fina, Josefa (Catalan) * 约瑟芬, Yuēsèfēn (Chinese Simplified) * 約瑟芬, Yuēsèfēn (Chinese Traditional) * Josipa, Jozefina, Finka, Ina (Croatian) * Jozefien, Josefien, Fien (Dutch) * Josephine, Josephin (English) * Josefine (German) * Josefine (Danish) * Ιωσηφίνα, Io̱si̱fína (Greek) * જોસેફાઈન, Jōsēphā'īna (Gujarati) * Josefiina (Finnish) * Joséphine, Fifi, Josette, Josiane (French) * जोसफिन, Jōsaphina (Hindi) * Jozefina, Jozefin, Jozefa (Hungarian) * Giuseppina (Italian) * ジョセフィン, Josefin (Japanese) * ಜೋಸೆಫೀನ್, Jōsephīn (Kannada) * 조세핀, Josepin (Korean) * Џозефин, Džozefin (Macedonian) * Жозефина, Jozyefina (Mongolian) * जोसेफिन, Jōsēphina (Nepali) * ژوزفین (Persian) * Józefina (Polish) * Josefina (Portuguese) * Жозефина, Zhozefina (Russian) * Iosefina (Samoan) * Јосефина, Josefina (Serbian) * Josefina (Spanish) * Josefina (Swedish) * ஜோசபின், Jōcapiṉ (Tamil) * జోసెఫిన్, Jōsephin (Telugu) * โจเซฟิน, Cosefin (Thai) * Жозефіна, Zhozefina (Ukrainian) * דזשאָסעפינע, Dzşʼásʻpynʻ (Yiddish)

Nicknames

Jobe, JJ, Jowse, Jody, Fi, Fientje, Fifi, Fike, Fina, Jael, Jo, Joephy, Joey, Joja, Jojo, Jos, Josa, Josie, Jossan, Jovi, Johnny, Jussus, Juza, Pepi, Peppa, Phinie, Posy, Posie, Sefi, Sefina, Sephine, Sophie, Ephine, Effy, Jo-Z, Joan, Jayla, Jay, Fini, Fine.

Male

* Joséphin Péladan (1858–1918), French novelist and martinist

People with the given name Josephine

Royalty

* Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, Princess of

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg *

Josephine of Leuchtenberg Joséphine of Leuchtenberg (Joséphine Maximilienne Eugénie Napoléone de Beauharnais; 14 March 1807 – 7 June 1876) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 8 March 1844 to 8 July 1859 as the wife of King Oscar I. She was also Princess of Bologna ...

, Queen of Sweden *

, Empress Consort of the French, Queen Consort of Italy, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte *

Princess Joséphine of Lorraine , image = Joséphine de Lorraine, Princess of Carignan.jpg , caption = Portrait by Ludwig Guttenbrunn , title = Princess of Carignano , birth_date = , birth_place = , death_date = , death_place = Palazzo Carignano, Turin, Ital ...

, Princess of Carignano * Josephine of Rosenborg, Countess, member of Denmark's Royal Family *

Princess Josephine of Baden Princess Josephine Friederike Luise of Baden (21 October 1813 – 19 June 1900) was Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen from 27 August 1848 to 7 December 1849 during the brief reign of her husband, Prince Karl Anton. Josephine was the second ...

, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen * Princess Joséphine Caroline of Belgium, wife of Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern * Princess Josephine of Denmark, Danish princess

Other

Josephine Baker Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald; naturalised French Joséphine Baker; 3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted Fran ...

, American dancer, jazz and pop singer *

Josephine Bakhita Josephine Margaret Bakhita, (ca. 1869 – 8 February 1947), was a Sudanese-Italian Canossian religious sister who lived in Italy for 45 years, after having been a slave in Sudan. In 2000, she was declared a saint, the first Black woman ...

, ex-slave from Sudan, Catholic nun and saint * Josefine Balluck, Austrian-American actor * Josephine Bell, English author *

Josephine Thorndike Berry Josephine Thorndike Berry (February 25, 1871 – July 21, 1945) was an American educator and home economist. She held several roles as an educator including that of Superintendent of schools at Waterville, Kansas and Professor of Domestic Scien ...

(1871-1945), American educator, home economist * Joséphine-Félicité-Augustine Brohan (1824–1893), French actress * Josephine Brunsvik, Hungarian countess, most likely Beethoven's

Immortal Beloved The Immortal Beloved (German "Unsterbliche Geliebte") is the addressee of a love letter which composer Ludwig van Beethoven wrote on 6–7 July 1812 in Teplitz. The unsent letter is written in pencil on 10 small pages. It was found in the comp ...

Josephine Butler Josephine Elizabeth Butler (' Grey; 13 April 1828 – 30 December 1906) was an English feminist and social reformer in the Victorian era. She campaigned for women's suffrage, the right of women to better education, the end of coverture ...

, British feminist and reformer * Josephine Cashman, Aboriginal Australian lawyer and entrepreneur * Joséphine Colomb (1833-1892), French children's writer, lyricist, translator * Josephine Cox (1938–2020), English author *

Josefine Cronholm Josefine Cronholm (born 1971) is a Swedish jazz vocalist, singer and songwriter, who has won two Danish Jazz Grammy Awards. Her debut album ''Wild Garden'' was released on 2002. She also provided a cover of The Carpenters' '' Close to You'' an ...

, Swedish jazz vocalist and songwriter * Joséphine de La Baume, French actress *

, Swedish ski-orienteering competitor and world champion *

Josephine Clay Ford Josephine Clay "Dody" Ford (July 7, 1923 – June 1, 2005) was an American philanthropist and the only granddaughter of Henry Ford. Early life Josephine was born in Dearborn, Michigan on July 7, 1923. She was the only daughter and third of four ...

(1923–2005), granddaughter of Henry Ford *

Josephine Foster Josephine Foster is an American singer, songwriter, and musician from Colorado. She is known for her anachronistic voice and work that weaves older styles with the modern, escaping simple classification. As a teenager Foster worked as a churc ...

, American folk singer * Josephine Gates Kelly, Native American activist and politician * Josephine Clara Goldmark, American reformer *

Josephine Sophia White Griffing Josephine Sophia White Griffing (December 18, 1814 – February 18, 1872) was an American reformer who campaigned against slavery and for women's rights. In Litchfield, Ohio their home was a stop on the Underground Railroad and she worked as a l ...

, American social reformer *

Josephine Hopper Josephine Verstille Hopper (née Nivison; March 18, 1883 – March 6, 1968) was an American painter who studied under Robert Henri and Kenneth Hayes Miller, and won the Huntington Hartford Foundation fellowship. She was the wife of Edward Hoppe ...

, wife and model of painter Edward Hopper *

Josephine Humphreys Josephine Humphreys (born February 2, 1945) is an Americans, American novelist. Early life Josephine Humphreys grew up in Charleston, South Carolina with her mother, father and two sisters (Vinh). Her father worked as the director of the Charl ...

, American novelist *

Josephine Hutchinson Josephine Hutchinson (October 12, 1903 – June 4, 1998) was an American actress. She acted in several theater plays and films. Early years Hutchinson was born in Seattle, Washington. Her mother, Leona Roberts, was an actress best known for ...

, American actress * Joséphine Jobert, French actress and singer *

Josephine Langford Josephine Langford (born 18 August 1997) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her starring role as Tessa Young in the ''After'' film series. She also portrayed Emma Cunningham in the Netflix film ''Moxie'' while also portraying Zoey i ...

, Australian actress * Josephine Louise Le Monnier Newcomb, American philanthropist *

Josefine Lindstrand Josefine Lindstrand is a Swedish singer. She received the Jazz in Sweden award for 2009 from the government agency ''Rikskonserter'', and her debut record ''There Will Be Stars'' was released soon afterwards. The album received a favourable revie ...

, Swedish singer *

Josephine Shaw Lowell Josephine Shaw Lowell (December 16, 1843 – October 12, 1905) was a Progressive Reform leader in the United States in the Nineteenth century. She is best known for creating the New York Consumers League in 1890. Seth Low's biographer descri ...

, American social reformer *

Josephine Lucchese Josephine Lucchese (July 24, 1893 – September 10, 1974) was an American operatic soprano who had an active international singing career during the 1920s and 1930s. A skilled coloratura soprano, she was particularly admired for her portrayals o ...

(1893–1974), American opera singer * Josephine McGill (1877–1919), American composer and music historian * Josephine Meeker (1857–1882), American teacher and physician *

Josephine Melville Josephine Crawford Melville (12 April 1961 – 20 October 2022) was a British actress, director and writer who was best known for starring in the television soap opera '' EastEnders''. Life and career Melville was born in West Ham, Essex on ...

(1961–2022), British actress, director and writer * Josephine Mitchell (born 1965), Australian actress * Josephine Moon, Australian author *

Josefine Öqvist Anna Lenita Josefine Öqvist (born 23 July 1983) is a Swedish former footballer who played for Montpellier of the French Division 1 Féminine and the Swedish national team. She scored a critical goal at the 86' minute in the 2003 FIFA Women's ...

(Anna Lenita Josefine Öqvist), Swedish female footballer * Josephine Preston Peabody, American writer *

Josefine Preuß Josefine Preuß (born 13 January 1986) is a German television actress. Early life Preuß was born in Zehdenick, Brandenburg, near Berlin with an older sister. She won the Brandenburg Junior Championships in rhythmic gymnastics in 1993. Career ...

, German actor * Josefine Ridell, Swedish singer *

Josephine Ruffin Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (August 31, 1842 – March 13, 1924) was an African American, African-American publisher, journalist, civil rights leader, Women's suffrage, suffragist, and editor of the ''The Woman's Era, Woman's Era'', the first n ...

, early civil rights activist and suffragist * Josephine Siao, Hong Kong actress *

Josephine Skriver Josephine Skriver-Karlsen (born 14 April 1993) is a Danish model, known for her work with Victoria's Secret. Early life Skriver was born and raised Copenhagen, Denmark. Her mother is an IT analyst and her father is a marine biologist. Her mothe ...

, Danish model *

Josephine Sparre ''Josephine'' Sophie Anette Charlotte Sparre af Söfdeborg (28 July 1829, Dyrendal, Norway – 17 August 1892), called ''Jossan'' or ''Schossan'', was a Swedish noble, lady-in-waiting and a royal mistress to King Charles XV of Sweden. Life Joseph ...

, Swedish noble *

Josephine Tewson Josephine Ann Tewson (26 February 1931 – 18 August 2022) was an English actress, best known for her roles in British television sitcoms, such as Edna Hawkins ("Mrs H") in '' Shelley'', Elizabeth "Liz" Warden in ''Keeping Up Appearances'' (1 ...

(1931–2022), British actress *

Josephine Tey Josephine Tey was a pseudonym used by Elizabeth MacKintosh (25 July 1896 – 13 February 1952), a Scottish author. Her novel '' The Daughter of Time'' was a detective work investigating the role of Richard III of England in the death of the Pr ...

, mystery writer * Josephine 'Jo' Williams, British businesswoman

Fictional characters

*Josephine Bloom, a character played by

Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions. She has received ...

in the 2003 film ''

Big Fish ''Big Fish'' is a 2003 American fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Tim Burton, and based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Car ...

'' * Josephine Balsamo, a.k.a. Countess Cagliosto, antagonist of

Arsène Lupin Arsène Lupin (French pronunciation: ʁsɛn lypɛ̃ is a fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise created in 1905 by French writer Maurice Leblanc. The character was first introduced in a series of short stories serialized in the magazi ...

in novels *Josephine, Captain Corcoran's daughter in the comic opera '' H.M.S. Pinafore'' *Josephine "Lena" Duchannes, second protagonist of the novel series ''

Caster Chronicles ''Caster Chronicles'' is a series of young adult fiction novels written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl that were published in the United States by Little, Brown and Company. It comprises four novels that were published between 2009 and 2012, an ...

'' by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl *Josephine "Jo" March, protagonist of the novel '' Little Women'' *Josephine “Pepi” Mutzenbacher, protagonist of the novel '' Josephine Mutzenbacher'' *Josephine Joey Potter, in the television series ''

Dawson's Creek ''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college that ran from 1998 to 2003. T ...

'' *Dr Josephine

Jo Karev Josephine “Jo” Brooke Wilson (previously Karev), formerly Brooke Stadler, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a character from the medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', which airs on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. ...

, in the television series ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into s ...

'' *Josephine Cherette Montilyet, the Chief Ambassador and Diplomat in ''Dragon Age Inquisition.'' *Josephine Anwhistle, a fictional character in the series of novels ''

A Series of Unfortunate Events ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' is a series of thirteen children's novels written by American author Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket. The books follow the turbulent lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. After th ...

'' by Lemony Snicket *Josephine Ada Lightbourne, a character in the television series ''

The 100 The 100 may refer to: Arts and entertainment * 100 (DC Comics), fictional organized crime groups appearing in DC Comics * ''The 100'' (novel series), a 2013–2016 science fiction novel series written by Kass Morgan * ''The 100'' (TV series), 20 ...

'' * Josephine Barry, a character in the television series ''

Anne with an E ''Anne with an E'' (initially titled ''Anne'' for its first season within Canada) is a Canadian television series loosely adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 classic work of children's literature, ''Anne of Green Gables''. It was created by ...

References

External links

Josephine database.

Behind The Name.

Etymology Online.

United States Social Security Database.
{{Commons category-inline English feminine given names Hebrew feminine given names