What does Eliza mean?
A short form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew, “God is my oath.”
What does Josie mean?
Josie is a pet form of Josephine, from the Hebrew, “God shall add.”
Eliza vs Josie
Which is more popular?
Josie is more popular than Eliza today: about 3,021 US babies were given the name Josie in 2025, compared with 2,370 named Eliza.
| Eliza | Josie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | God shall add |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ih-LY-zuh | JOH-zee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2021 (2,484) | 2025 (3,021) |
| In 2025 | 2,370 | 3,021 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Eliza
Josie
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Eliza | Josie |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 14,227 | 14,981 |
| 2010s | 17,726 | 13,927 |
| 2000s | 9,608 | 10,634 |
| 1990s | 4,750 | 6,039 |
| 1980s | 2,774 | 2,545 |
| 1970s | 1,725 | 2,123 |
| 1960s | 1,007 | 2,060 |
| 1950s | 1,057 | 2,427 |
| 1940s | 1,391 | 3,374 |
| 1930s | 1,817 | 3,464 |
| 1920s | 3,227 | 4,095 |
| 1910s | 3,289 | 3,370 |
| 1900s | 2,397 | 2,118 |
| 1890s | 2,723 | 2,329 |
| 1880s | 2,851 | 1,884 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Eliza or Josie more popular?
Josie is more popular than Eliza today: about 3,021 US babies were given the name Josie in 2025, compared with 2,370 named Eliza.
What is the difference between Eliza and Josie?
Eliza means God is my oath (Hebrew origin), while Josie means God shall add (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Eliza or Josie?
In US records, Eliza first appears in 1880 and Josie in 1880, so Eliza has the longer recorded history.