Choosing the name Josephine while Joseph is popular?

[8obby]

Is Joseph still massively popular these days? Would a Josephine feel surrounded by Joseph's in the classroom in five years time and feel like her name was a poor version of a 'boys' name?

No, I wouldn't say so. Josephine these days is quite uncommon and a lovely name. If anything, having a name similar but different to the boys in the classroom could be empowering.

I would use it without hesitation even if Joseph is fairly popular.

If your daughter is a tomboy/no frills type, she can call herself Jo.

Or she could be Josie.

Or even Fifi if she was a girly girl.

My personal favourite nickname is Posy which I think is gorgeous and very feminine.

I see Josephine as a bit like Alexandra - both are very strong & feminine despite being variations of boys' names and each lend themselves to a multitude of nicknames, as well as sounding gorgeous themselves.

If you're not convinced, might you like Jacqueline instead?

To put your worries in context, in 2010:

Oliver #1 & Ollie #63
Olivia #1

Harry #3 & Harrison #42
Harriet #86

Charlie #5
Charlotte #20

George #9
Georgia #56

Alexander #21 & Alex #5
Alexandra #97

Kieran #89
Keira #72

Jessamine (JESS ah meen, JESS ah min) is a great, girly alternative too.

Thanks for the thread - have just added that to my list of potential names

I only know one Joseph around here, and he's at high school now. And I totally agree with extremum

Josephine and Joseph are both lovely names :) Joe and Josie are nice nicknames too.