What does Josephine mean?
The feminine of Joseph, from the Hebrew, “God shall add.” Borne by Napoleon’s empress.
What does Sadie mean?
A pet form of Sarah, from the Hebrew, “princess.”
Josephine vs Sadie
Which is more popular?
Sadie is more popular than Josephine today: about 4,168 US babies were given the name Sadie in 2025, compared with 4,126 named Josephine.
| Josephine | Sadie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God shall add | Princess |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | JOH-suh-feen | SAY-dee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1918 (8,682) | 2014 (4,871) |
| In 2025 | 4,126 | 4,168 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Josephine
Sadie
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Josephine | Sadie |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 20,976 | 21,233 |
| 2010s | 23,960 | 36,582 |
| 2000s | 13,924 | 21,328 |
| 1990s | 7,059 | 8,580 |
| 1980s | 4,732 | 3,162 |
| 1970s | 5,154 | 1,754 |
| 1960s | 9,317 | 1,131 |
| 1950s | 16,412 | 2,437 |
| 1940s | 24,324 | 4,168 |
| 1930s | 36,051 | 6,298 |
| 1920s | 69,223 | 10,846 |
| 1910s | 61,355 | 12,388 |
| 1900s | 18,785 | 7,461 |
| 1890s | 12,463 | 7,398 |
| 1880s | 7,732 | 4,915 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Josephine or Sadie more popular?
Sadie is more popular than Josephine today: about 4,168 US babies were given the name Sadie in 2025, compared with 4,126 named Josephine.
What is the difference between Josephine and Sadie?
Josephine means God shall add (Hebrew origin), while Sadie means Princess (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Josephine or Sadie?
In US records, Josephine first appears in 1880 and Sadie in 1880, so Josephine has the longer recorded history.