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Joséphine is the French feminine form of Joseph, which derives from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "he will add" or "God will increase," from the root yasaf. The name gained widespread use across Europe through the biblical figure Joseph, son of Jacob in the Old Testament. It rose to particular prominence through Joséphine de Beauharnais, the Martinique-born empress who became the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, making the name fashionable throughout the nineteenth century. Related forms include Josephine in English, Giuseppina in Italian, and Josefina in Spanish and Portuguese.