What does Gabriella mean?
The feminine of Gabriel, from the Hebrew, “God is my strength.”
What does Josephine mean?
The feminine of Joseph, from the Hebrew, “God shall add.” Borne by Napoleon’s empress.
Gabriella vs Josephine
Which is more popular?
Josephine is more popular than Gabriella today: about 4,126 US babies were given the name Josephine in 2025, compared with 2,545 named Gabriella.
| Gabriella | Josephine | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my strength | God shall add |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | gab-ree-EL-uh | JOH-suh-feen |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2010 (6,185) | 1918 (8,682) |
| In 2025 | 2,545 | 4,126 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Gabriella
Josephine
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Gabriella | Josephine |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,092 | 20,976 |
| 2010s | 48,132 | 23,960 |
| 2000s | 47,398 | 13,924 |
| 1990s | 20,173 | 7,059 |
| 1980s | 2,410 | 4,732 |
| 1970s | 1,080 | 5,154 |
| 1960s | 664 | 9,317 |
| 1950s | 209 | 16,412 |
| 1940s | 83 | 24,324 |
| 1930s | 73 | 36,051 |
| 1920s | 153 | 69,223 |
| 1910s | 126 | 61,355 |
| 1900s | 32 | 18,785 |
| 1890s | 11 | 12,463 |
| 1880s | 0 | 7,732 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gabriella or Josephine more popular?
Josephine is more popular than Gabriella today: about 4,126 US babies were given the name Josephine in 2025, compared with 2,545 named Gabriella.
What is the difference between Gabriella and Josephine?
Gabriella means God is my strength (Hebrew origin), while Josephine means God shall add (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Gabriella or Josephine?
In US records, Gabriella first appears in 1890 and Josephine in 1880, so Josephine has the longer recorded history.