Jocelyn: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, and More

Fact: There is a Saint Josceline, who was a Benedictine monk in the 12th century, reflecting the name’s historical and religious significance.

Jocelyn Overview

Meaning

Member of the Gauts tribe

Gender

Girl, Gender-neutral

Origin

Old German

Etymology

Derived from the Germanic name “Gautelen”

Pronunciation

/ˈdʒɑː.sə.lɪn/

Popularity

Jocelyn is popular in many English-speaking countries and enjoys widespread use across Europe and North America. In the USA, Jocelyn was ranked as the 347th most popular name for girls in 2023.

Syllable

3 syllables

Length

7 letters

Numerology

3 (Expressive, Social, Artistic)

Name Styles

Traditional, Uncommon, Aesthetic

Associated Traits

Elegant, artistic, compassionate, determined

Name Day

December 13th (France), February 13th (Sweden)

Jocelyn Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Joceline, Joselyn, Jocelyne, Joslyn, Josselyn, Josalyn, Jocelynn

Common Nicknames

Joss, Josie, Josie-Lyn, Jocy-Lyn, Jocy, J-Lyn

Diminutives

Lynnie, Jossy, Lynn, Joey, Jocey

Famous People

Jocelyn Bell Burnell
(Irish Astrophysicist)
Jocelyn Towne
(American Actress)
Jocelyn Brown
(American Singer)
Jocelyn Wildenstein
(Swiss Socialite)
Jocelyn Enriquez
(Filipino-American Singer)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

Jocelyn Fray
("The Mortal Instruments," Novel Series)
Jocelyn Turner
("Nashville," TV Series)
"Jocelyn"
(Song)
Jocelyn "Joss" Carver
("Mistresses," TV Series)
"Jocelyn's Journey"
(Novel)

Places

Jocelyn Township
(Ontario, Canada)
Jocelyn Street
(New South Wales, Australia)

What Is the Meaning of Jocelyn?

Jocelyn means “joyous” or “cheerful,” reflecting a happy and lively personality. Individuals called Jocelyn are often identified as friendly, energetic, and fun-loving.

What Is the Origin of The Name Jocelyn?

Jocelyn comes from Old French origins, derived from the Germanic name Gautselin. It has roots in medieval times and was initially used as a surname before becoming a popular first name.

Jocelyn Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Jocelyn in the U.S. over the Years

United States	#3152022	#3462023
Top 3 Rankings	#502007	#652010	#672008

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Jocelyn

Year	Name Ranking	Number of Births	Birth Rate (%)
2023	346 (-31 from 2022)	885 (-128 from 2022)	0.05059
2022	315 (-23 from 2021)	1013 (-76 from 2021)	0.05650
2021	292 (-23 from 2020)	1089 (-56 from 2020)	0.06078
2020	269 (-69 from 2019)	1145 (-374 from 2019)	0.06477
2019	200 (-5 from 2018)	1519 (-41 from 2018)	0.08278
2018	195 (-32 from 2017)	1560 (-282 from 2017)	0.08389
2017	163 (-16 from 2016)	1842 (-263 from 2016)	0.09750
2016	147 (-14 from 2015)	2105 (-348 from 2015)	0.10874
2015	133 (-18 from 2014)	2453 (-310 from 2014)	0.12574
2014	115 (-16 from 2013)	2763 (-388 from 2013)	0.14123
2013	99 (-6 from 2012)	3151 (-80 from 2012)	0.16346
2012	93 (-22 from 2011)	3231 (-500 from 2011)	0.16659
2011	71 (-6 from 2010)	3731 (-265 from 2010)	0.19255
2010	65 (+6 from 2009)	3996 (-120 from 2009)	0.20381
2009	71 (-4 from 2008)	4116 (-255 from 2008)	0.20325
2008	67 (-17 from 2007)	4371 (-922 from 2007)	0.20985
2007	50 (+23 from 2006)	5293 (+923 from 2006)	0.25008
2006	73 (+14 from 2005)	4370 (+689 from 2005)	0.20904
2005	87 (-2 from 2004)	3681 (-62 from 2004)	0.18137
2004	85 (+2 from 2003)	3743 (+25 from 2003)	0.18550
2003	87 (+5 from 2002)	3718 (+197 from 2002)	0.18530
2002	92 (+31 from 2001)	3521 (+694 from 2001)	0.17828
2001	123 (-1 from 2000)	2827 (+82 from 2000)	0.14271
2000	122 (+10 from 1999)	2745 (+268 from 1999)	0.13754
1999	132 (-4 from 1998)	2477 (-104 from 1998)	0.12723
1998	128 (-6 from 1997)	2581 (-40 from 1997)	0.13314
1997	122 (+5 from 1996)	2621 (+112 from 1996)	0.13728
1996	127 (+21 from 1995)	2509 (+316 from 1995)	0.13087
1995	148 (+9 from 1994)	2193 (+135 from 1994)	0.11413
1994	157 (+5 from 1993)	2058 (+132 from 1993)	0.10557
1993	162 (+2 from 1992)	1926 (+83 from 1992)	0.09769
1992	164 (+51 from 1991)	1843 (+488 from 1991)	0.09194
1991	215 (+2 from 1990)	1355 (+38 from 1990)	0.06664
1990	217 (+30 from 1989)	1317 (+236 from 1989)	0.06411
1989	247 (-9 from 1988)	1081 (-23 from 1988)	0.05426
1988	238 (+22 from 1987)	1104 (+125 from 1987)	0.05741
1987	260 (+32 from 1986)	979 (+128 from 1986)	0.05224
1986	292 (-5 from 1985)	851 (-18 from 1985)	0.04611
1985	287 (-10 from 1984)	869 No change from 1984	0.04707
1984	277 (+44 from 1983)	869 (+146 from 1983)	0.04819
1983	321 (+6 from 1982)	723 (-18 from 1982)	0.04040
1982	327 (-28 from 1981)	741 (-68 from 1981)	0.04084
1981	299 (+18 from 1980)	809 (+48 from 1980)	0.04523
1980	317 (+7 from 1979)	761 (+40 from 1979)	0.04274
1979	324 (-45 from 1978)	721 (-106 from 1978)	0.04184
1978	279 (-12 from 1977)	827 (-111 from 1977)	0.05031
1977	267 (+188 from 1976)	938 (+514 from 1976)	0.05702
1976	455 (+13 from 1975)	424 (+24 from 1975)	0.02697
1975	468 (-6 from 1974)	400 (+11 from 1974)	0.02563
1974	462 (+31 from 1973)	389 (+33 from 1973)	0.02484
1973	493 (+8 from 1972)	356 (+5 from 1972)	0.02291
1972	501 (-15 from 1971)	351 (-45 from 1971)	0.02177
1971	486 (-2 from 1970)	396 (-17 from 1970)	0.02260
1970	484 (+8 from 1969)	413 (+23 from 1969)	0.02255
1969	492 (+36 from 1968)	390 (+66 from 1968)	0.02212
1968	528 (+65 from 1967)	324 (+64 from 1967)	0.01895
1967	593 (-43 from 1966)	260 (-37 from 1966)	0.01514
1966	550 (+7 from 1965)	297 (+5 from 1965)	0.01692
1965	557 (+68 from 1964)	292 (+30 from 1964)	0.01598
1964	625 (-6 from 1963)	262 (-4 from 1963)	0.01339
1963	619 (+71 from 1962)	266 (+44 from 1962)	0.01338
1962	690 (+11 from 1961)	222 (-2 from 1961)	0.01095
1961	701 (-28 from 1960)	224 (-4 from 1960)	0.01078
1960	673 (-32 from 1959)	228 (-13 from 1959)	0.01096
1959	641 (-82 from 1958)	241 (-65 from 1958)	0.01159
1958	559 (-52 from 1957)	306 (-47 from 1957)	0.01481
1957	507 (-50 from 1956)	353 (-51 from 1956)	0.01682
1956	457 (+6 from 1955)	404 (+21 from 1955)	0.01962
1955	463 (+45 from 1954)	383 (+79 from 1954)	0.01910
1954	508 (-11 from 1953)	304 (-4 from 1953)	0.01527
1953	497 (+37 from 1952)	308 (+53 from 1952)	0.01596
1952	534 (-41 from 1951)	255 (-21 from 1951)	0.01341
1951	493 (+245 from 1950)	276 (+140 from 1950)	0.01494
1950	738 (+157 from 1949)	136 (+39 from 1949)	0.00773
1949	895 (+82 from 1948)	97 (+18 from 1948)	0.00553
1948	977 (+70 from 1947)	79 (+7 from 1947)	0.00453
1947	1047 (-41 from 1946)	72 (+2 from 1946)	0.00396
1946	1006 (-117 from 1945)	70 (-2 from 1945)	0.00434
1945	889 (+251 from 1944)	72 (+25 from 1944)	0.00535
1944	1140 (-233 from 1943)	47 (-26 from 1943)	0.00344
1943	907 (+86 from 1942)	73 (+11 from 1942)	0.00509
1942	993 (-44 from 1941)	62 (+2 from 1941)	0.00446
1941	949 (+8 from 1940)	60 (+4 from 1940)	0.00482
1940	957 (-152 from 1939)	56 (-17 from 1939)	0.00474
1939	805 (+274 from 1938)	73 (+29 from 1938)	0.00644
1938	1079 (-87 from 1937)	44 (-6 from 1937)	0.00385
1937	992 (-197 from 1936)	50 (-22 from 1936)	0.00454
1936	795 (+170 from 1935)	72 (+21 from 1935)	0.00668
1935	965 (-191 from 1934)	51 (-24 from 1934)	0.00469
1934	774 (+71 from 1933)	75 (+12 from 1933)	0.00693
1933	845 (+46 from 1932)	63 (+1 from 1932)	0.00602
1932	891 (-163 from 1931)	62 (-23 from 1931)	0.00560
1931	728 (+152 from 1930)	85 (+18 from 1930)	0.00770
1930	880 (-101 from 1929)	67 (-13 from 1929)	0.00574
1929	779 (+145 from 1928)	80 (+16 from 1928)	0.00691
1928	924 (+31 from 1927)	64 (+1 from 1927)	0.00535
1927	955 (+178 from 1926)	63 (+18 from 1926)	0.00510
1926	1133 (-32 from 1925)	45 (-3 from 1925)	0.00366
1925	1101 (+87 from 1924)	48 (+4 from 1924)	0.00380
1924	1188 (-59 from 1923)	44 (-2 from 1923)	0.00340
1923	1129 (+601 from 1922)	46 (+22 from 1922)	0.00367
1922	1730 (-320 from 1921)	24 (-9 from 1921)	0.00192
1921	1410 (+256 from 1920)	33 (+8 from 1920)	0.00258
1920	1666 (+32 from 1919)	25 (+2 from 1919)	0.00201
1919	1698 (+189 from 1918)	23 (+3 from 1918)	0.00196
1918	1887 (-456 from 1917)	20 (-7 from 1917)	0.00166
1917	1431 (+102 from 1916)	27 (+3 from 1916)	0.00240
1916	1533 (+993 from 1915)	24 (+13 from 1915)	0.00221
1915	2526 (-261 from 1914)	11 (+1 from 1914)	0.00107
1914	2265 (-101 from 1913)	10 (+1 from 1913)	0.00126
1913	2164 (-20 from 1912)	9 (+1 from 1912)	0.00137
1912	2144 (+319 from 1911)	8 (+3 from 1911)	0.00136
1911	2463 (-65 from 1910)	5 No change from 1910	0.00113
1910	2398 (-675 from 1900)	5 (-1 from 1900)	0.00119
1909	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1908	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1907	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1906	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1905	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1904	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1903	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1902	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1901	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1900	1723 First SSA data recorded	6 First SSA data recorded	0.00189
1899	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1898	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1897	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1896	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1895	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1894	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1893	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1892	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1891	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1890	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1889	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1888	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1887	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1886	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1885	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1884	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1883	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1882	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1881	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000
1880	0 No SSA data	0 No SSA data	0.0000

American States Popularity Rankings for Jocelyn

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

California (CA)

#1932021

#1782022

#2152023

Texas (TX)

#2482021

#2052022

#2472023

New York (NY)

#3692021

#4832022

#6592023

Illinois (IL)

#2682021

#3632022

#4372023

Pennsylvania (PA)

#2342021

#4062022

#3592023

Florida (FL)

#3252021

#3542022

#4632023

Ohio (OH)

#3032021

#3282022

#3462023

New Jersey (NJ)

#4702021

#5642022

#3662023

Arizona (AZ)

#1882021

#2352022

#2992023

North Carolina (NC)

#2362021

#4212022

#4382023

Massachusetts (MA)

#4702021

#4282022

#4812023

Georgia (GA)

#5602021

#3332022

#5542023

Virginia (VA)

#4442021

#3602022

#3792023

Washington (WA)

#4232021

#4352022

#3112023

Michigan (MI)

#6022021

#5362022

#5192023

Indiana (IN)

#3342021

#2632022

#4632023

Maryland (MD)

#3932021

#3282022

#3762023

Minnesota (MN)

#2482021

#3712022

#4392023

Wisconsin (WI)

#2072021

#2612022

#7782023

Colorado (CO)

#2692021

#3792022

#4292023

Tennessee (TN)

#3612021

#4562022

#4052023

Missouri (MO)

#2292021

#2952022

#3962023

Utah (UT)

#2922021

#2452022

#3062023

Connecticut (CT)

#4192019

#4502021

#5872022

Oregon (OR)

#2402021

#5012022

#5712023

Nevada (NV)

#3252021

#2482022

#2152023

Oklahoma (OK)

#2212021

#2012022

#2222023

Kansas (KS)

#2792021

#3622022

#2042023

Iowa (IA)

#2782021

#4082022

#3582023

South Carolina (SC)

#4482021

#4462022

#6542023

New Mexico (NM)

#1892020

#2122021

#1862023

Kentucky (KY)

#2372021

#4922022

#2442023

Alabama (AL)

#3742021

#6242022

#3882023

Nebraska (NE)

#1852021

#2842022

#3312023

Louisiana (LA)

#5462021

#7922022

#8812023

District of Columbia (DC)

#1812013

#1672015

#1952016

Hawaii (HI)

#2552007

#1362008

#2572015

Mississippi (MS)

#6052019

#5012021

#3662023

Idaho (ID)

#1932020

#2582021

#2232022

Arkansas (AR)

#4122021

#3082022

#3962023

West Virginia (WV)

#1462020

#2902021

#3502022

New Hampshire (NH)

#1652016

#1462018

#2362019

Rhode Island (RI)

#2032012

#1732013

#2032014

North Dakota (ND)

#1332017

#1332020

#2082023

Maine (ME)

#1542016

#2012017

#1922019

Delaware (DE)

#2262014

#1702016

#1642017

South Dakota (SD)

#2272019

#2132022

#2302023

Montana (MT)

#2272016

#1772020

#972021

Alaska (AK)

#1402013

#1282015

#1892017

Wyoming (WY)

#642008

#882009

#682013

Vermont (VT)

#1401978

#1041991

#1242004

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Jocelyn a Name for Boys or Girls?

Jocelyn can be used for both boys and girls, but it is mostly seen as a girl’s name nowadays. This is due to its association with beauty and femininity.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Jocelyn

Joceline
Joselyn
Jocelyne
Joslyn
Josselyn
Josalyn
Jocelynn

Jocelyn in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

Jocelyn Bell Burnell (Astrophysicist, born 1943): An Irish astrophysicist who co-discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967.
Jocelyn Towne (Actress, born 1976): An American actress and producer featured in various films and TV shows.
Jocelyn Brown (Singer, born 1950): An American singer with a powerful voice and numerous hits in the R&B and dance music genres.
Jocelyn Wildenstein (Socialite, born 1940): A Swiss socialite renowned for her extensive cosmetic surgeries and high-profile lifestyle.
Jocelyn Enriquez (Singer, born 1974): A Filipino-American dance-pop singer popular in the 1990s.
Jocelyn Moorhouse (Director, born 1960): An Australian film director known for her work on both Australian and international films.

Sibling Names for Jocelyn

For a Brother
For a Sister

Parents Who Like the Name Jocelyn Also Like

That’s all about Jocelyn! Let me know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to share this with friends.

Helen Doanna

Editor in Chief, Educational Specialist, and Senior Content Creator

Expertise

Child Development Specialist, Child-care Coordinator, Family Support Specialist, Content Writer, Communications Specialist, Educational Consultant, STEAM Teacher

Education

1. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Literature and Journalism
Focus: In-depth knowledge of Literature, knowledge and skills to perceive, create literature or work in related fields; Basic knowledge of communications.

2. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Education Faculty
Focus: Core knowledge of social sciences and humanities – the root for the development of progressive values of education, Multicultural communication in education, Contemporary education in the context of globalization, Learning in the digital technology era, Basic issues of STEAM education, Classroom Management, Special education.

3. Oregon State University, Oregan, US

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Human Development and Family Sciences – Child Development
Focus: Different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood; Develop a strong foundation for a career in early childhood programs or classrooms; Learn strategies for supporting young children’s development in early childhood settings.

Helen is an experienced educational specialist and content creator, known for her innovative approach to children’s learning. With a background in literature and child development, she composes engaging educational content for SimpleKids.net. Her work emphasizes creativity, engagement, and simplicity, aiming to make learning enjoyable and accessible for children and their families.

Jocelyn Name Meaning