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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What do people think of the baby name Josh?

62 replies

Namesnamesnames13 · 16/07/2026 21:06

Thoughts on the name Josh? Not for me, but for my sister. She asked me to post it!!

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Gherkin32 · 17/07/2026 08:40

Love it!!

Starbri8 · 17/07/2026 05:57

Don’t do it , a number of years ago an acquaintance of mine named her son Josh and he had a bad lisp for a number of years, they had to use his second name,

PancakeCloud · 17/07/2026 05:52

I like Joshua, Josh is the natural nickname. Wouldn’t use just Josh.

ClementineFortyNine · 17/07/2026 05:06

Naughty boys name

mylifeisexams · 17/07/2026 01:15

I know at least 2 that are just Josh on BC, not Joshua.

NamingNoNames · 17/07/2026 00:52

CombatBarbie · 16/07/2026 23:14

I know one in their 20s, one in their 30s. And a toddler.

I think it will be a "timeless" name in years to come, like Jack, Noah because the.classics.are more.Peter, Mark.colin, Graham etc

Colin is a diminutive of Nicholas.

ButtercupYellow26 · 17/07/2026 00:15

Joshua is fine. Josh only as a nn.

JustGiveMeReason · 16/07/2026 23:25

I think Joshua is a lovely name.
Yes, most will end up being called 'Josh' day to day, but it is nice to have the fuller version for some occasions.

CombatBarbie · 16/07/2026 23:14

I know one in their 20s, one in their 30s. And a toddler.

I think it will be a "timeless" name in years to come, like Jack, Noah because the.classics.are more.Peter, Mark.colin, Graham etc

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 16/07/2026 22:47

I have a Joshua, don't particularly like Josh, but would call him that if he wanted me to. He doesn't. Some of his friends call him Josh though.

@pambeesleyhalpert he does have a sister called Isabella. On his Dad's side, so the name is nothing to do with me.

Mwnci123 · 16/07/2026 22:44

too common (as in, overly used)

Denim4ever · 16/07/2026 22:44

Berlinlover · 16/07/2026 21:16

A bit dated.

I think that's the best recommendation any name can have. Being the only Elizabeth or Caroline in an era of Tracey and Debra or the sole Henry in a sea of Darren and Wayne would be a great big plus.

TicklishReader · 16/07/2026 22:33

I have never met a mean Josh.

LivingTheDreamish · 16/07/2026 22:32

Only if short for Joshua. Josh on its own is a verb not a name.

FredaMountfitchet · 16/07/2026 22:26

Love it but reminds me of Cold Feet .

NamingNoNames · 16/07/2026 22:20

lovecotswoldsliving · 16/07/2026 22:13

Isabelle is a beautiful name.
A traditional name.

Show quote history

It isn't. It's the French form of Elizabeth. Baby names since 1904: how has yours performed? - Office for National Statistics
Not much used in the UK until the 1990s.

Giraffehaver · 16/07/2026 22:19

I really like it short for Joshua

MrsKateColumbo · 16/07/2026 22:18

It cant be just Josh, everyone will assume it's Joshua.

I know a 6 you Joshie/Joshua, it's nice, classic perfectly fine

Helenbelena · 16/07/2026 22:17

I disagree about Isabelle - that French spelling and pronunciation is beautiful

Helenbelena · 16/07/2026 22:16

Josh is very boring and a little dated. I also don’t like how it sounds - too much dsh and sh

BogRollBOGOF · 16/07/2026 22:16

Still lots of Joshua/Joshs at my secondary, sometimes multiple in a class.

It is past its Zennial peak, but a classic name that will always be familiar and cycle in and out.

lovecotswoldsliving · 16/07/2026 22:13

pambeesleyhalpert · 16/07/2026 22:09

V v boring: usually has a sister called Isabelle

Isabelle is a beautiful name.
A traditional name.

timoteigirl · 16/07/2026 22:12

Never been one of my favourites, so sorry to me it is lack of imagination and a boring name. But if she likes it she should trust herself and not listen to people online.

pambeesleyhalpert · 16/07/2026 22:09

V v boring: usually has a sister called Isabelle

Optimisticdramalarma · 16/07/2026 22:07

I have a Josh

Full name Joshua,but he hates being called that

Nickname 'j' (I only call him Joshua when he's in trouble!)

I'd never met a Joshua before and as soon as I named him,every bugger seemed to call their sons Josh(he was 1 out of 6 Joshua's in his class)

He was born 2000 so names have moved on since

It's a refreshing change to all the noah's and max's of today

A timeless classic

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