Jose
He shall add / God will increase (Hebrew via Spanish)
Jose is a spanish / biblical boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 4, with 266,720 records. It has 2 syllables.
The May 2021 total includes the name written with JR: 205,907 as Jose, and 60,813 as Jose Jr.
Origin and meaning
He shall add / God will increase (Hebrew via Spanish)
Jose is the Spanish adaptation of the biblical Hebrew name Yosef. It entered the Philippines through Catholic Christianization during the Spanish colonial period and remains deeply rooted across all social classes. Its standing is further cemented by Saint Joseph and the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
Spanish form of the Hebrew biblical name Yosef (Joseph). Introduced during the Spanish colonial era and solidified as one of the most common male names in Philippine history.
Name character
In the Philippines
Extremely common as a standalone name or in compound pairings (e.g., Jose Maria, Jose Luis, Jose Mari). Common Philippine diminutives include Pepe, Joey, Jojo, and Joe.
Related forms
- José Spanish
- Joseph English
- José Portuguese
- Giuseppe Italian
Would your family give Jose?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Jose for 2026 yet.
Jose with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Jose
How do I use Jose with two Filipino surnames?
Jose is the given name. The full name is Jose + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Jose a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Jose is number 4, with 266,720 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.