Given name
Josette
“God will add”
Josette is a variant of Josephine. In Hebrew use, Josephine carries the interpretation “God will add.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Josette is a variant of Josephine. In Hebrew use, Josephine carries the interpretation “God will add.”
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French use, Josette is used as an affectionate form of Josephine.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Josette through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,659
- 0 boys · 6,659 girls
- Most popular year
- 1968
- 504 babies
- 2025
- 109
- #1,836 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +64%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 109 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,836 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 63.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 504 in 1968. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,678 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Josette’s family of names
Josette is an affectionate form of Josephine. Josette has a related form in Josephine. In French usage, Josette has a diminutive in JOJO.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Josette
- Josette DayFrench actress (1914-1978)
- Josette AbondioIvory Coast playwrightborn 1949
- Josette AndriotFrench actress (1886-1942)
- Josette SimonBritish actor (born 1959 / 1960)
- Josette Banzetactress1938–2020
- Sylvia SanchezFilipino actressborn 1971
- Josette SheeranAmerican diplomatborn 1954
- Josette Rey-DeboveFrench lexicographer and linguist (1929-2005)
- Josette VidalVenezuelan actorborn 1993
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Josette, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jodie
Jodie is a feminine given name from French.
14% boys · 86% girls
Collette
“of the victorious people”
>99% girls
Yvette
“a young archer”
>99% girls
Jolene
“God will add” · “God shall add”
>99% girls
Evette
“giver of life; a lively woman”
>99% girls
Jodi
Jodi is a feminine given name from French.
12% boys · 88% girls
Lynette
“a beautiful maiden; resembling a songbird”
>99% girls
Bridgette
Bridgette is a feminine given name.
>99% girls