If you like… Josephine
Joyous Josephine has been standing strong for decades. This name has never departed from the top 500! In 2019 there were 3,087 baby girls born in the United States named Josephine, currently ranking it at #89. Josephine reached it’s chart-topping peak in 1917 at #21 with 8,326 births.
Folks love this name for it’s notable biblical ties to Joseph, the chosen father of Jesus.
Josephine has a variety of honorable references, from civil rights activist Josephine Baker, to worldwide royalty - Queen of Sweden Jospehine of Leuchtenberg, Princess of Belgium Josephine Caroline Marie Albertine, and Empress Josephine du Beauharnais, the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Most recently, actress Saoirse Ronan took on the role of Josephine “Jo” March in the film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.
Josephine has all the elegance of Elizabeth mixed with the rarity of Lorelei. Familiar, but not too out of the box.
Josephine also offers that beloved “ph” sound our classic hearts long for in Christopher, Ophelia and Sophie; while also gifting us a plethora of nicknames like Josie, Joss, Finnie and Posie to name a few.
If you like Josephine, consider these nicknames and alternatives.
Delphine - Another royal bestows this name, Princess of Belgium Delphine Michele Anne Marie Ghislaine Boel. This chic French name also offers two nature associations, the delphinium flower - the birth flower of July and its dolphin meaning
Finnie - This is a twist on Irish Fish Finn, making a great nickname for boys and girls. This sweet little moniker has become a fan favorite over the last few years after pop culture gifted us Huckleberry Finn, Finn Hudson and FN-287. To learn more about Finn, check out “If you like…Finn” on Instagram
Iina - Finnish originated nickname for Josephina stands strong next to Carolina and Christina
Jodie - Jodie Lee Ann Sweetin played sweet little Stephanie Tanner on the sitcom Full House which aired from 1987-1995. Jodie is a wonderful for parents wanting something less common compared to Josie
Joey - Gender Neutral names have been on parents radars lately and Joey is no exception. This adorable name brings to mind television stars Joey King and Joey Lawrence
Joie - Joyous Josephine offers the joyous nickname Joie! This little French name is pronounced like the English word joy. Can you guess it’s meaning? For another joyful option try Jovie!
Josiane - Another French name, Josiane, gives so much versatility for parents looking to honor an Anne, Joanne, Joseph or even Ian in their life.
Joss - Often thought of as a nickname for Jocelyn, it works for Josephine too! This name sided with the guys for a while until singer Joss Stone helped claim it for the girls.
Ophelia - Oh, Ophelia! Folk rock band The Lumineers got this name stuck in our heads and now we can’t stop singing it. While this name is still tied to a 1600’s sorrowful literature that hasn’t turned anyone away from using it today. Ophelia currently comes in at #387.
Philomena - It’s so clunky its cool. Alongside sisters Eugenia, Frederica and Wilhelmina, it’s so clunky it’s cool. This beautiful princess dates back to Greek mythology and has been given to many princesses since. Most recently, Daphne Oz named her daughter Philomena Bijou. She goes by Philo.
Posie - This botanical bouquet gained a lot of popularity after Youtube stars The LaBrant Fam gave this to their youngest daughter in 2018. It’s a great alternative for budding Poppy. Poetry lovers may prefer the alternative spelling of Posey.
Sophie - This wise French name is slightly less popular than its Greek counterpart Sophia. Royals may agree this is a ravishing choice. Princess Wilhelmine Marie Sophie Louise of the Netherlands, Princess Sophie Caroline Marie of Brunswick, and Princess Sofia Vilhemina Katarina Maria Lovisa Charlotta Anna of Sweeden all go by Sophie. Today the top Sophie search goes to actress Sophie Turner who played Sansa Stark in the Game of Thrones series.
Sosie - With Sophie and Susie, why not Sosie. Actor Kevin Bacon brought this name to the spotlight after naming his daughter Sosie Ruth in 1992.
Yusuf - This name comes from Arabic, Indonesian, Persian and Turkish origins as a variation of Joseph. 1970’s British folk singer-songwriter Steven Demetre Georgiou commonly known by his stage name Cat Stevens legally changed his name to Yusuf in 1978 after converting to the Islam faith the year prior.