A Name Story by Houdhoud
يُوسُف
Yusuf
YOO-suf
“He shall add; God increases.”
About Yusuf
Yusuf is a Muslim baby boy's name meaning "he shall add; god increases" — an Arabic-Hebrew-Arabic name carried for centuries across the Muslim world.
Of Hebrew origin, adopted into Arabic. The name of the Prophet Yusuf ﷺ, whose story occupies all of Surah 12.
Universal across Muslim, Christian, and Jewish families.
Origin & roots
Origin
Arabic (Hebrew root) · Arabic
Gender
Boy
Also spelled
Youssef, Yousef, Yusef, Joseph
Root letters
Yusuf's consonants traveled from Hebrew into Arabic without losing their shape or sound — the same root, recognized in both scriptures.
In the Qur’an
Surah 12 : Ayah 4
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
“[Mention] when Yusuf said to his father, 'O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me.'”
Saheeh International translation · sourced from Tanzil
Yusuf appears in the Qur'an directly. The verse above is one of those mentions.
Across history
Who has carried Yusuf before.
- The Prophet Yusuf ﷺ; Surah Yusuf is the only Surah dedicated entirely to one prophet's story
How to say it
Stressed syllable in capitals
Discover names like Yusuf
Other names with the same heart — close in origin, sound, and spirit.
NOOH · Arabic · Arabic-Hebrew
“Comfort, rest.”
YOO-nus · Arabic · Arabic-Hebrew
“Dove.”
ib-raa-HEEM · Arabic-Hebrew · Arabic
“Father of many; patriarch.”
AA-dam · Arabic · Arabic-Hebrew
“Man; from the earth.”
MOO-sa · Arabic · Arabic-Hebrew
“Drawn from water.”
is-maa-EEL · Arabic-Hebrew · Arabic
“God hears.”
Looking for a name made for your family?
I’ll ask six warm questions about your family — heritage, the sound you love, who you’d like to honor — and find names made for yours. About ninety seconds.
Free · No sign-up