Meaning & History
Josèphe is a French feminine form of Joseph. The name ultimately derives from the Hebrew Yosef, meaning "he will add" (from the root yasaf, "to add, to increase"). In the Old Testament, Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob and the first with his wife Rachel. In the New Testament, Saint Joseph is the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, and Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned as the one who provided the tomb for Jesus' burial.
While Joseph became common among Jews in the Middle Ages, it gained broader Christian popularity later, especially after the late Middle Ages when devotion to Saint Joseph increased. The feminine forms, including Josèphe, emerged as female equivalents in various European languages. In French, Josèphe is one of several variants alongside Josée and diminutives such as Joséphine, Josette, Josiane, and Fifi.
The name Josèphe, though rare, is still occasionally used in modern France. A notable bearer was Pascal Josèphe (1954–2022), a French television businessman who directed major channels including TF1 and France 2, and was a member of the diversity board of the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel.
- Meaning: "He will add" (feminine form of Joseph)
- Origin: Hebrew, via Greek and Latin
- Type: Feminine given name
- Usage regions: France (and other Francophone areas)
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Pascal Josèphe