ジョシュア
Your name
Joshua
in Japanese
The default way to write Joshua in Japanese is ジョシュア — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Joshua actually means at the root — From Hebrew Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), meaning 'Yahweh is salvation' or 'the Lord saves/delivers'. Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Joshua is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Joshua" means: From Hebrew Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), meaning 'Yahweh is salvation' or 'the Lord saves/delivers'. A name signifying divine rescue, deliverance, and salvation.
救護
Kyuugo
Together: 'rescuing protection' — capturing the salvation and guardianship core to the name's meaning.
神助
Shinjo
Together: 'divine help' — directly mirroring 'Yahweh saves.'
天佑
Ten'yuu
Together: 'heaven's blessing' — the sense of being saved and guided by a higher power.
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
城修亜
Joshua
Together: 'the disciplined one of the fortress' — a cool, samurai-flavored rendering.
丈朱亜
Joshua
Together: 'the stalwart in crimson' — bold and warm, a vivid cinnabar warrior image.
如珠彩
Joshua
Together: 'like a radiant pearl' — a mystical, luminous reading evoking treasured light.
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
Seven, drawn