Josephine
Josephine is the French feminine of Joseph, from the Hebrew "Yosef" — meaning "God will increase" or "God will add." In the Hebrew Bible, Joseph was the son of Jacob who was sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become vizier of Egypt, and saved his family from famine. The feminine form Josephine emerged in 17th-century France. Josephine was a top-50 American name from 1880 to 1925, declined mid-century, then had a remarkable revival. It re-entered the top 100 in 2015 and continues to climb. The most famous historical bearer is Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress of the French. Joséphine Baker (1906-1975), the American-born French entertainer and civil rights activist, was one of the most celebrated performers of the 20th century. I find Josephine has an elegant, slightly vintage quality — the "J" opening is firm, the "ph" gives it a Greek-French texture, and the "ine" ending gives it length. The nickname Josie (as in Josie and the Pussycats) lightens it considerably. The name is climbing strongly. Josephine is a female name of Hebrew (via French) origin that means "God will increase (feminine of Joseph)". Elegant, vintage, and quietly strong. The name sounds French. Josephines tend to be principled. US top 100 since 2015. Rising. Well-known people named Josephine include Empress Joséphine (wife of Napoleon), Josephine Baker (entertainer/activist), Josephine (biblical, via Joseph), Josephine Tey (author). Common variations and related forms of Josephine include Joséphine (French), Josefina (Spanish), Giuseppina (Italian), Josie (nickname).