Jose

The name José represents the Spanish and Portuguese variant of Josef. Originally stemming from Hebrew, it means metaphorically "God may add," referring to the wish that God grants another son.

What does the name Jose mean?

José is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the name Josef. The name has its roots in ancient Hebrew and means metaphorically "God may add," which is often interpreted as a request for another son. Occasionally, the name is also used in the form Jose, without an accent. In Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, José enjoys great popularity, especially in countries like Mexico and Brazil. The name is also used in France as an alternative to Josef. With about 30 million bearers, José is the third most common first name worldwide. Notable personalities with this name include the Spanish opera singer José Carreras and the Portuguese football coach José Mourinho.

Where does the name Jose come from?

The name José derives as a variant of Josef (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף jōsēf) and comes from ancient Hebrew roots, where "jo" means "God" and "jasaf" means "to add, to increase."

How do you pronounce Jose?

The pronunciation of the name Jose is two syllables and soft. In the German language, it is often pronounced as "Cho-se" [ˈxoːze] or "Ho-se," with the name starting with a whispered, slightly rough initial sound that gives it a gentle touch. The long vowel in the first syllable creates a calm sound, while the second syllable "-se" ends bright and light. Overall, this results in a balanced sound that feels warm, melodic, and unobtrusive.

When is the name day of Jose?

The name days for José are celebrated on March 19, May 1, and September 18.

Popularity

In Germany, Jose is a popular first name and currently ranks 1,607th on the list of most common male first names. Its best placement was in 1976, when it reached 102nd place. In the last ten years, Jose has been chosen as a first name about 370 times, placing it 1,068th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 903rd. The global popularity is reflected in the recent rankings of Jose in various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Hose / Jo / Jojo / Josi / Sepp

Famous people

• Avila Laurel Jose Tomas (writer from Equatorial Guinea)
• Candido Jose de Araujo Viana (writer from Brazil)
• Fernando José Torres Sanz (Spanish football player)
• Francisco Jose Debali (musician from Hungary)
• Jaime Jose Rotman (footballer from Argentina)
• Josė Alvaro Osorio Balvin (Colombian singer)
• Jose Agostinho de Macedo (Portuguese writer)
• Jose Aldo (mixed martial arts fighter)
• Jose Angel Lamas (Venezuelan musician)
• Jose Angel Rosabal Fajardo (Cuban artist)
• Jose Antonio Balseiro (Argentinian physicist)
• Jose Antonio de Miranda Da Silva (Brazilian football player)
• José Antonio Dominguez Banderas (Spanish actor)
• Jose Asuncion Silva (poet from Colombia)
• Jose Aveiro (Paraguayan football player)
• Jose Bardina (actor from Venezuela)
• Jose Blanco (Filipino painter)
• Jose Callejón (Spanish football player)
• Jose Canseco (Cuban baseball player)
• Jose Carlos Da Silva (football player from Brazil)