The nameJocelyn
Jocelyn is a name of Germanic origin, linked to the Gauts, a Germanic people. A boy's name in medieval times and in France, it is mostly given to girls in the United States.
- Unisex name
- Germanic
Meaning
Jocelyn comes from the Germanic Gautselin, a diminutive of Gauzo, linked to the Gauts, a Germanic tribe.
Origin
Germanic, through Norman French. Joscelin was a man's name brought to England by the Normans.
History
In the 20th century, Jocelyn became mostly a girl's name in the English-speaking world, reaching the American top 50 in the 2000s. In France, Jocelyn is still a boy's name.
Did you know?
- The astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered the first pulsar in 1967, while still a student.
Famous people named Jocelyn
- Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist
- Jocelyn Brown, singer
- Joscelin of Courtenay, Count of Edessa
Popularity of the name Jocelyn
Jocelyn in the United States
Jocelyn was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 38,482 births over the decade, 34% of all recorded babies named Jocelyn. Its rise began around 1977, and it peaked in 2007. Half of all babies named Jocelyn in the United States were born before 2004. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 990 births a year on average, against 1,897 in the five years before.
Jocelyn in the United Kingdom
Jocelyn was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 474 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named Jocelyn. Half of all babies named Jocelyn in the United Kingdom were born before 2011, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 26 births a year on average, against 48 in the five years before.
Jocelyn in France
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Jocelyn
Names from the same generation as Jocelyn, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Jocelyn? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Jocelyn with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Jocelyn side by side with the name of your choice.
Jocelyn in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jocelyn mean?
Jocelyn comes from the Germanic Gautselin, a diminutive of Gauzo, linked to the Gauts, a Germanic tribe.
What is the origin of the name Jocelyn?
Germanic, through Norman French. Joscelin was a man's name brought to England by the Normans.
Is Jocelyn a girl's or a boy's name?
Jocelyn is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys.
How popular is the name Jocelyn?
In 2024, Jocelyn was the 389th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 808 births.
What are the variants of the name Jocelyn?
Variants and related names of Jocelyn include Joseline.
What are good sibling names for Jocelyn?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Giselle, Mya, Kaylee and Nadia for a sister, Raymond, Gavin, Roberto and Frank for a brother.
Who are famous people named Jocelyn?
Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist; Jocelyn Brown, singer; Joscelin of Courtenay, Count of Edessa.