The Origin and Meaning of the Name Joshua

The name Joshua is a Hebrew name that means "God is my deliverance." Keep reading to learn more about this beautiful name.

Reviewed and approved by the pediatrician Marcela Alejandra Caffulli.

Written by Maria del Mar Garcia Martin

Last update: 29 June, 2023

Are you wondering what the origin and meaning of the name Joshua are? And not only that, are you interested in knowing all the details related to this precious name for boys? If so, don’t miss its original history and its popularity rate, among other things that’ll captivate you completely. Take note!

Discover the origin and meaning of Joshua, a very special name

The name Joshua is a male variant that comes from the Hebrew name Yehoshua. Its origin alludes to the meaning of “God is my deliverance” or “Jehovah is generous”, but it also defines “the savior.” In this regard, it derives from the terms yeho (“God”) and shua (“to deliver or save”). With the passage of time, the y was changed to i in Latin to give place to the palatal approximant j. In English, it’s also shortened to Joshua.

The biblical story related to the origin and meaning of Joshua

The character of Joshua appears in the sacred texts. He was the Israelite leader who led the Hebrews to the Promised Land. Moreover, there’s the “Book of Joshua”, one of the most famous and important passages of the Old Testament, as reported in a work published by the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. In the same, it can be consulted in more detail on the issues related to its historical value.

At the same time, it’s worth mentioning that the name Jesus is closely related to the name Joshua. In this regard, Jesus in its origin derives from the option Yeshua. This is an Aramaic abbreviation that also comes, in turn, from Yehoshua. Keeping in mind that the New Testament was translated into ancient Greek, Yeshua was in turn translated as Iesous, which gave rise to Iesus in Latin and later to the recognized Jesus.

Saint’s day

If you know someone with this name, don’t miss the opportunity to congratulate them on their saint’s day. There are two possible options. In this regard, in honor of the birth of Christ, there are those who celebrate on January 1. However, others do it on September 1 in honor of St. Joshua (ninth century BC), according to experts from the Archdiocese of Madrid.

On the other hand, if the little one in your family is on one of these dates, don’t miss the opportunity to give them the name Joshua so he to be their guardian angel. This is a perfect option for those parents who are looking for a religious, spiritual, or faith-based name.

Joshua: A traditional name that never goes out of style

According to data provided by the United States Social Security, in 2021, Joshua was ranked 58th in popularity. However, the rise of it has been taking place since the first years of the 21st century. In 2006, the number of births of children bearing this name was 22,327, a figure that made it reach the number 3 position in regard to popularity.

Variants of Joshua

There’s no doubt that this option for children has crossed borders. In different regions and territories of the world, the proof is that the following variants are recognized and worth knowing. Especially for those parents who want an international option for their little one:

• Yehoshua, in Hebrew
• Giosue, in Italian
• Iokua, in Hawaiian
• Iosua, in Romanian
• Joaquín, in Spanish and Portuguese
• Josué, in German and Hungarian
• Jozsúa, in Hungarian
• Josva, in Danish
• Jozua, in Dutch

Celebrities who’ve received the name Joshua as a gift

More proof that this name has crossed any border in the world is the number of celebrities who’ve received the grace of being named Joshua. Perhaps you’ll find the inspiration you needed when you read about the feats and values of these celebrities:

• Joshua Bell: American violinist and conductor.
• Joshua Bolten: American lawyer and politician. He’s known for having served as chief of staff to former President George W. Bush.
• Joshua Carter Jackson: Canadian actor.
• Joshua Rush: American actor.
• Joshua Chamberlain: Well-known brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
• Joshua Evans: American minister, journalist, and abolitionist.
• Joshua Fishman: Renowned American linguist.
• Joshua Jackson: Canadian-American actor.
• Joshua Johnson: American journalist and broadcaster.
• Joshua Oppenheimer: English film director.
• Joshua Redman: American saxophonist and jazz composer.
• Joshua Reynolds: English portrait painter.
• Joshua Slocum: American sailor and adventurer. He’s world-renowned for being the first man to sail solo around the world.

Joshua, a name created to make the fathers of all nations fall in love

Now, the question is clear after informing you about all the details behind the origin and meaning of Joshua. Have you also been captivated by this precious choice? If so, don’t hesitate to give it to your child. As you may have noticed, it’s a traditional alternative, but it remains in the forge of modernity.

On the other hand, do you know anyone who’s lucky enough to carry this name? If the answer is yes, we invite you to share with him all this information so that he can appreciate this valuable alternative even more. Undoubtedly, he’s very lucky!