Joycelyn
Joycelyn is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Member of the Gauts tribe, or associated with joy.
Origin and history
Joycelyn is a variant spelling of Jocelyn, derived from the Old French masculine name Saint Josse or the Germanic tribe name Gauts, later blended with the English word joy. It gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century as an elaborated form. Today it remains a rare but recognizable feminine name.
Popularity in the United States
6,622 babies in the United States have been named Joycelyn since 1880. It ranks #2076 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1983.
States where it is most popular
- LA (36.6 %)
- TX (18.9 %)
- CA (15.3 %)
- GA (5.9 %)
- AL (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 26 |
| 1920-1930 | 326 |
| 1930-1940 | 749 |
| 1940-1950 | 736 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,128 |
| 1960-1970 | 896 |
| 1970-1980 | 575 |
| 1980-1990 | 614 |
| 1990-2000 | 664 |
| 2000-2010 | 491 |
| 2010-2019 | 299 |
| 2020-2029 | 118 |
Famous people named Joycelyn
- Joycelyn Elders: Surgeon General, Pediatrician
Nicknames
Joy, Joyce, Lynn
Fun facts
- Joycelyn explicitly incorporates the word 'joy' into its spelling compared to the more common Jocelyn.
- Originally a medieval male name derived from Breton and Germanic roots, it transitioned into a predominantly female name in modern English.