Joep is a Dutch masculine given name, primarily used in the Netherlands and Flanders. It is a diminutive of Jozef, which is the Dutch, Slovak and Albanian form of Joseph.EtymologyThe name Joseph originates from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף), meaning "he will add," derived from the root yasaf (יָסַף), "to add, to increase." In the Old Testament, Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob and Rachel, sold into slavery by his brothers but later rising to power in Egypt as an advisor to the pharaoh (Genesis 37–50). In the New Testament, Saint Joseph is the husband of Mary, and Joseph of Arimathea is also mentioned. The name spread into Europe via the Latin Joseph and Greek Ioseph. Joep specifically reflects the Limburgish dialectal variant of Joseph.Notable BearersSeveral notable Dutch individuals bear the name Joep:Joep Baartmans-van den Boogaart (1939–2017), a female politician, showing occasional feminine usageJoep van Beeck (1930–2011), author and theologianJoep Bertrams (born 1946), political cartoonistJoep Beving (born 1976), composer and pianistJoep Brandes (1920–1988), football player and coachJoep Franssen (1899–1975), road cyclistJoep Franssens (born 1955), composerJoep van 't Hek (born 1954), later spelled "Youp van 't Hek", comedianJoep Lange (1954–2014), AIDS researcherJoep Leerssen (born 1955), comparatist and cultural historianJoep van Liefland (born 1966), conceptual artistJoep van Lieshout (born 1963), artist and sculptorJoep de Mol (born 1995), field hockey playerCultural SignificanceIn the Netherlands, Joep is considered a friendly and familiar variant of Joseph, often used in Limburg and other southern regions. The related names include other Dutch diminutives such as Jef, Joes, Joop, Joos, Joost, and Jos.Meaning: Dutch diminutive of Jozef (Joseph), meaning "he will add"Origin: Dutch, Limburgish variantType: Given name, masculineUsage Regions: Netherlands, Flanders