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Name Origin

Josef is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God will increase' or 'May God add'. It is a variation of the name Joseph, which appears in the Bible as the eleventh son of Jacob and Rachel.

hebrewbiblicalreligiousmeaningfulgodlyincreaseaddition

Famous People

Josef Stalin (1878-1953)

Soviet dictator

  • Led the Soviet Union through World War II
  • Implemented a series of radical economic and social reforms

Josef Mengele (1911-1979)

Nazi physician

  • Conducted horrific medical experiments on prisoners at Auschwitz concentration camp

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Composer

  • Prolific composer of the Classical era
  • Known as the 'Father of the Symphony'

Josef Fritzl (1935-)

Criminal

  • Imprisoned his daughter in a basement for 24 years and fathered seven children with her