Joyce
Joyce is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Lord or prince.
Origin and history
Joyce derives from the Old French name Josse, which traces back to the Breton name Iudoc, meaning 'lord'. Although historically used for both sexes, it became predominantly female in the mid-20th century in the United States. Today, masculine usage of Joyce is rare but remains a traditional choice.
Popularity in the United States
2,900 babies in the United States have been named Joyce since 1880. It ranks #2401 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1892.
States where it is most popular
- TX (33.9 %)
- IL (8.7 %)
- KY (8.7 %)
- NY (6.7 %)
- OK (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 23 |
| 1910-1920 | 259 |
| 1920-1930 | 563 |
| 1930-1940 | 757 |
| 1940-1950 | 594 |
| 1950-1960 | 305 |
| 1960-1970 | 178 |
| 1970-1980 | 50 |
| 1980-1990 | 53 |
| 1990-2000 | 23 |
| 2000-2010 | 16 |
| 2010-2019 | 44 |
| 2020-2029 | 35 |
Famous people named Joyce
- Joyce Clyde Hall: Entrepreneur, Executive
Fun facts
- Joyce was introduced to England by the Normans and was originally used as a male given name before becoming unisex.
- The name stems from the Celtic Breton element 'iud', meaning 'lord' or 'chief'.