Josephine Schaefer
Name meaning, origin and global statistics
Josephine Schaefer is a name that combines Hebrew origins. The first name Josephine is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. Josephine is a female name. It is the English version of the French name Joséphine, itself a female variant of the name Joseph , which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף), meaning "he shall add/grow". Originally a diminutive form of the French name Josèphe, Joséphine became the standard form in the 19th century, replacing Josèphe, which eventually became a very rare name. In 2017, Josephine was the 107th most popular girls' baby name in the US. Diminutive forms of this name include Fifi, Jo, Josie, Joetta and Jojo. The surname Schaefer: Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word schäfer, meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the Old High German scāphare. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames. Josephine is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 274K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Josephine reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.
Etymology & Origin
First Name: Josephine
Meaning: God will add
Hebrew
Josephine is a female name. It is the English version of the French name Joséphine, itself a female variant of the name Joseph , which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף), meaning "he shall add/grow". Originally a diminutive form of the French name Josèphe, Joséphine became the standard form in the 19th century, replacing Josèphe, which eventually became a very rare name. In 2017, Josephine was the 107th most popular girls' baby name in the US. Diminutive forms of this name include Fifi, Jo, Josie, Joetta and Jojo.
Surname: Schaefer
Germanic
Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word schäfer, meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the Old High German scāphare. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames.
Geographic Distribution
The first name Josephine is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:
Popularity Over Time
Popularity of the name Josephine by decade, based on birth registration data:
Numerology
According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Josephine Schaefer:
Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.
Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.
Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.
Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the origin of the first name Josephine?
- The first name Josephine originates from Hebrew. Josephine is a female name. It is the English version of the French name Joséphine, itself a female variant of the name Joseph , which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף), meaning "he shall add/grow". Originally a diminutive form of the French name Josèphe, Joséphine became the standard form in the 19th century, replacing Josèphe, which eventually became a very rare name. In 2017, Josephine was the 107th most popular girls' baby name in the US. Diminutive forms of this name include Fifi, Jo, Josie, Joetta and Jojo.
- When was Josephine most popular?
- The name Josephine reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
- What is the origin of the surname Schaefer?
- The surname Schaefer originates from Germanic. Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word schäfer, meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the Old High German scāphare. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames.
- What are the origins of the name Josephine Schaefer?
- The name Josephine Schaefer combines two different traditions: the first name Josephine has Hebrew roots, while the surname Schaefer originates from Germanic.