How old is someone named Joseph?
The average Joseph is 45 years old.
Half of all living Josephs are between 29 and 62.
When was Joseph popular?
Few names are as steady as Joseph. It peaked in 1956, but babies have been named Joseph every year since records began, and 7,315 were in 2025.
Popular names of 1956 · The most popular names of the 1950s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 35,346 | 0 |
| 1910s | 179,927 | 0 |
| 1920s | 245,187 | 1,300 |
| 1930s | 181,452 | 22,000 |
| 1940s | 230,953 | 100,000 |
| 1950s | 300,765 | 200,000 |
| 1960s | 284,271 | 230,000 |
| 1970s | 246,336 | 220,000 |
| 1980s | 301,405 | 280,000 |
| 1990s | 261,388 | 250,000 |
| 2000s | 195,325 | 190,000 |
| 2010s | 115,878 | 110,000 |
| 2020s | 46,389 | 46,000 |
How many Josephs are still alive?
About 1.7 million Josephs are alive in the US today. That's 62% of the roughly 2.7 million babies named Joseph since 1880.
Roughly half of all Josephs ever born are still living.
What generation is the name Joseph?
About one in four living Josephs are Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996.
Is Joseph an old name?
Somewhat. Joseph is older than 73 in 100 names on AgeByName, but younger than plenty of classics.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Joseph will be 54 in 2056, so the name is aging slowly.
Is Joseph a boy or girl name?
Almost entirely boys: 99.6% of living Josephs are men.
Names the same age as Joseph
NAME TWIN
Joseph's name twin is Elizabeth. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Elizabeth's age curve is the closest match to Joseph's: 96% alike.
Other spellings: Josef (33)
Compare: Joseph vs. Joey
Think you can guess a Jessica's age?
Ten names, one slider each. Share your score.
Questions about the name Joseph
How old is the average Joseph?
The average Joseph in the US is 45 years old. The median is 44, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Joseph?
About 1.7 million Josephs are alive in the US today, out of roughly 2.7 million babies given the name since 1880.
When was the name Joseph most popular?
In 1956, when about 33,000 baby boys were named Joseph.
Is Joseph a Millennial name?
Partly. Millennials are the largest group, about 26% of living Josephs, but the name spans several generations.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this