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Josh

Boy name · 4,176 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Josh: 4,176 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 257 births in 2002.

Josh is primarily a short form of Joshua, a Hebrew name from Yehoshua, meaning “God is salvation.” In Scotland, it has been a familiar choice since the 1970s, often given as a standalone name rather than a nickname. Actor Josh Hutcherson, best known for The Hunger Games, and Josh Brolin, of No Country for Old Men fame, are among its notable bearers. The name also connects to the Joshua tree, named by Mormon settlers after the biblical figure, giving its name to Joshua Tree National Park in California. As a variant, it shares roots with Jesus, another anglicised form of the same Hebrew origin.

Boy 41 of 52 years

Peak year
2002257 babies
Latest (2025)
#20820 babies
Total births
4,176since 1984
5-year trend
▼ 60%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2002 · 257
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).