Joshua
Boy name · 6,961 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Joshua: 6,961 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 300 births in 2002.
Joshua comes from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, meaning "God is salvation." Best known from the Bible as the leader who brought the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses, the name also has many modern bearers—Canadian actor Joshua Jackson and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell among them. Joshua Tree National Park in California takes its name from the yucca plant, which Mormon settlers likened to the biblical figure raising his arms in prayer. The shared root with Jesus (the Greek form of Yeshua) gives Joshua a profound biblical resonance. In Scotland, the name has been a consistent favourite since the 1970s, peaking in the 1990s, and continues to be a classic choice with timeless appeal.
Boy 48 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 2002300 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #7566 babies
- Total births
- 6,961since 1975
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 49%vs prior 5y