I love both names, though I’m not fond of the nickname Josie for some reason. Just personal preference I guess. I have never ever associated either as a stripper name. If anything, Josephine feels classic or Biblical to me, but not in a way that I would assume it was chosen for religious reasons. I briefly worked with a Mallory who had a very genuine smile and I was impressed by how she seemed to just have her stuff figured out at a very young age. I guess I associate Mallory as someone being cheerful and intelligent and put together but also playful. I think it gets a bad rap because of the meaning behind it, but I would still totally use it! I slightly prefer Mallory because it feels very recognizable but feels a little unexpected or underused. You don’t run into them super often, at least not where I live. I think Josephine has had a resurgence recently, but not nearly as popular as like an Olivia or Sophia. I heard a mom calling after a little Josephine at a park recently and it made me love the name even more seeing it on a little girl in real life.