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