What does Josie mean?
Josie is a pet form of Josephine, from the Hebrew, “God shall add.”
What does Miriam mean?
An ancient Hebrew name of debated meaning, variously read “beloved,” “bitter,” or “of the sea.” Miriam is the sister of Moses.
Josie vs Miriam
Which is more popular?
Josie is more popular than Miriam today: about 3,021 US babies were given the name Josie in 2025, compared with 1,262 named Miriam.
| Josie | Miriam | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God shall add | Of debated origin |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | JOH-zee | MEER-ee-um |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,021) | 1924 (1,834) |
| In 2025 | 3,021 | 1,262 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Josie
Miriam
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Josie | Miriam |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 14,981 | 7,334 |
| 2010s | 13,927 | 10,927 |
| 2000s | 10,634 | 11,356 |
| 1990s | 6,039 | 10,071 |
| 1980s | 2,545 | 7,729 |
| 1970s | 2,123 | 6,433 |
| 1960s | 2,060 | 8,084 |
| 1950s | 2,427 | 9,544 |
| 1940s | 3,374 | 7,107 |
| 1930s | 3,464 | 8,348 |
| 1920s | 4,095 | 15,504 |
| 1910s | 3,370 | 11,048 |
| 1900s | 2,118 | 2,566 |
| 1890s | 2,329 | 1,397 |
| 1880s | 1,884 | 462 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Josie or Miriam more popular?
Josie is more popular than Miriam today: about 3,021 US babies were given the name Josie in 2025, compared with 1,262 named Miriam.
What is the difference between Josie and Miriam?
Josie means God shall add (Hebrew origin), while Miriam means Of debated origin (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Josie or Miriam?
In US records, Josie first appears in 1880 and Miriam in 1880, so Josie has the longer recorded history.