| Josiah | Eli | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Yahweh supports | Ascended, high |
| Origin | hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | joh-SY-ah | EE-ly |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2017 (7,079) | 2012 (8,079) |
| In 2025 | 5,509 | 3,418 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Josiah | Eli |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 34,599 | 26,169 |
| 2010s | 63,132 | 69,900 |
| 2000s | 33,258 | 28,043 |
| 1990s | 10,916 | 8,562 |
| 1980s | 4,406 | 5,455 |
| 1970s | 945 | 3,610 |
| 1960s | 173 | 1,323 |
| 1950s | 195 | 1,346 |
| 1940s | 164 | 1,288 |
| 1930s | 206 | 1,592 |
| 1920s | 278 | 2,520 |
| 1910s | 308 | 1,991 |
| 1900s | 77 | 483 |
| 1890s | 108 | 492 |
| 1880s | 193 | 721 |
From Hebrew Yoshiyahu, a theophoric name ending in Yah (Yahweh). Lexicons (BDB) read it 'Yah supports/supporteth'; the underlying verb (yasha) carries the sense 'save, deliver.' The popular rendering 'Yahweh heals' is common on name sites but is not supported by the root, so 'supports' is the better-attested gloss.
From the Hebrew, “ascended” or “high.” Eli is a priest in the Book of Samuel.
Josiah is more popular than Eli today: about 5,509 US babies were given the name Josiah in 2025, compared with 3,418 named Eli.
Josiah means Yahweh supports (hebrew origin), while Eli means Ascended, high (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Josiah first appears in 1880 and Eli in 1880, so Josiah has the longer recorded history.