# Josephine

/ˈdʒoʊsəˌfin/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/josephine
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a female name that was very popular in the past. It is the female version of the name Joseph.

For teachers: a female given name of French origin, representing the feminine diminutive of Joseph. While historically significant due to figures like Empress Joséphine, it is now less common in contemporary usage.

## Examples

- My grandmother's name was Josephine.
- The novel's protagonist, Josephine, struggles to balance her family's expectations with her own career goals.
- The name Josephine experienced a peak in popularity during the early twentieth century before gradually declining in favor of more modern alternatives in many English-speaking regions.

## Usage notes

- As a proper name, it is typically capitalized and used without an article unless referring to a specific person among others of the same name.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.