Meaning:
Its source is Yehoshua, a Hebrew name meaning "God is salvation."
Popularity:
The name Josh ranked 722nd in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 437th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.
Narrative:
In the Jewish scriptures, Joshua, which is the source for the name Jesus, is the hero of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land. Successor to Moses, he is a mighty soldier who is also known for his piety and fairness.
Joshua features in a well-loved African-American spiritual that recounts: ''Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, and the walls came a-tumblin' down!'' The ancient site of Jericho has been excavated by many scientists over the last century. They still puzzle over the miracle described in the song -- at Joshua's command, the people surrounding the city blew rams' horns and raised a shout so mighty that Jericho's defenses crumbled, giving the battle to the Children of Israel.
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