English
Josephine
Josephine comes from French Josèphe.
- Frenchc. 1600–presentJosèphe
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentJoséphine
- Englishearliest quotation 1868Josephine
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Frenchc. 1600–presentJosèphe
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentJoséphine
- Englishearliest quotation 1868Josephine
Earliest quotation: 1868, Louisa May Alcott: “I hate my name, too, so sentimental! I wish…”
Equivalent to Joseph + -ine
The story
Popularized in English by Josephine Bonaparte, the empress of Napoleonic France.
Every English word from French Josèphe
Today it means
name A female given name from French.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / French Josèphe / Josephine