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Josephine

Girl name · 591 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Josephine: 591 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 27 births in 1975.

Josephine began as the feminine form of Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning "He will add," a fitting promise of joy for a much-loved daughter. It was famously carried by Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and a style icon whose rose gardens at Malmaison are still celebrated. In literature, the name graces the spirited and stubborn Josephine March in Louisa May Alcott’s *Little Women*. The Scottish town of Fortrose shares no direct link, though the name saw real popularity in Scotland during the Victorian era, often shortened to the spirited Jo or the more delicate Posy. Parents choosing Josephine today often appreciate its blend of vintage grace and tomboyish charm, a classic that feels neither too frilly nor too plain.