Jose Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Jose

2 syllables

♂ Male ◎ Spanish / Portuguese ◈ 2 syllables

"Jehovah increases"

From Spanish / Portuguese

Jose means he will add — the Spanish form of Joseph, carrying the same biblical dreamer-to-viceroy story through the warmest language in the world. José is the most popular name in the Spanish-speaking world and one of the most used names on Earth. José Martí is Cuba's national hero. José Mourinho is football's most quotable manager. It's the name that connects two continents and a billion speakers.

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Jose at a glance

MeaningJehovah increases

OriginSpanish / Portuguese

GenderMale

Syllables2

NumerologyLife Path 4

US Rank (today)#87

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Why parents love Jose

José is the most popular name across the entire Spanish-speaking world.
José Martí is one of Latin America's greatest heroes and poets.
Two syllables with a warm, open Spanish sound: ho-ZAY.
The biblical Joseph story is one of the greatest ever told.
It connects to Spanish, Portuguese, and Filipino cultures.

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The vibe of Jose

SpanishuniversalbiblicalMartíwarmcontinentaldreamerhe-will-add

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Origin & history of Jose

Hebrew Yosef (he will add) → Latin Iosephus → Spanish José → English Jose

Spanish / Portuguese roots

Jose (José) is the Spanish form of Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef meaning he will add. José is the most common male given name across the Spanish-speaking world, used from Spain to Mexico to Argentina to the Philippines. José Martí (1853–1895) was Cuba's national hero, a poet, philosopher, and revolutionary. José Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. José has been one of the most popular names in the US for decades, reflecting the enormous influence of Latino culture.

First recorded

Earliest known use: Biblical Joseph; José has been the dominant Spanish-language form for centuries.

Today

Jose remains a beloved choice, ranking #87 in the US. 592,999 babies have been named Jose since 1880.

◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data

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How popular is Jose?

2002 peak year

Jose has settled into a steady rhythm — neither rising sharply nor fading, holding a consistent place in U.S. birth records. It currently ranks inside the top hundred (#87), with about 4,301 babies named Jose each year. In 2002, 12,868 babies were named Jose (ranked #30 nationally). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 592,999.

Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data

12,868 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #30)

4,301 Avg. per year
(last decade)

43,010 Total registrations
last 10 years

592,999 All-time total
(since 1880)

Popularity in the US today (rank #87) Very popular

→ Holding steady in recent years

📊 Check all names registered in the United States →

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Numerology of Jose

Life path number

The Builder

Discipline, reliability and masterful building.

Jose's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — leading a billion speakers. People named Jose tend to be warm, resilient, and gifted at adding value to everything they touch — just as the Hebrew meaning promises.

♡

Adds value everywhere

✦

Warm leader

◈

Continent-spanning influence

◎

Revolutionary spirit

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Dreamer who delivers

Sum: 13 → Life path 4

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Personality of Jose

🏛️

Steady & reliable

When they make a promise, they keep it.

📐

Methodical

Thorough, careful, precise.

💪

Quietly powerful

Their strength is always there when it matters.

🌿

Grounded

No matter what swirls around them, they stay centred.

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Famous people named Jose

Click any name to view their Wikipedia page.

José Martí

Cuba's national hero, poet, and revolutionary.

Historical

José Rizal

National hero of the Philippines.

Historical

José Mourinho

Football's most quotable manager.

Coach

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If you like Jose, you may also love

Juan

Same Spanish, same fundamental-name status.

Carlos

Same Spanish essential-name status.

Luis

Same Spanish, two-syllable classic.

Diego

Same Spanish, rising crossover name.

Mateo

Same Spanish, same-era US crossover surge.

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Names that sound like Jose

If you love Jose, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.

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Names that combine with Jose

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Jose.

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Middle names for Jose

The right middle name turns Jose into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

Want a personalised middle name for Jose? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.

♡ Generate middle name for Jose →

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

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How we calculated this

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