Jocelyn

Updated: September 28, 2023 by Sarah Nance

The baby name Jocelyn has a modern feel and falls into the trend of baby girl names that end with “lyn,” like Brooklyn, Kaitlyn, and Madelyn. But Jocelyn actually has historic roots and started out as a name for men. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, it's been more popular than ever.

Meaning and Origin of the name Jocelyn:

After the Norman Conquest, the English adopted the name “Jocelyn” from the French male name “Joscelin.” It was the French version of saying “Gautzelin,” a name given to the people of a Germanic tribe in Northern Europe. In English, the name Jocelyn means happy or joyful.

Symbolism of the name Jocelyn:

The modern English version of the name Jocelyn is thought to symbolize happiness and joy.

Nicknames for the name Jocelyn:

Joss
Lyn
Josie
Joy
Joci
Jo
Jolie
Jossie
Joce
Jolyn
Jossa

Style of the name Jocelyn:

Traditional

Gender of the name Jocelyn:

Jocelyn is both a boy's and a girl's name, though mostly a girl's name in the 21st century

Pronunciation of the name Jocelyn:

JAH-sa-lin

Number of syllables in the name Jocelyn:

Three

Emotion evoked from the name Jocelyn:

Like many names that end in “lyn” these days, Joceyln evokes the images of a sweet and feminine girl.

Alternative spellings for the name Jocelyn:

Jocelin
Jocelyne
Jocelynn
Jocilyn
Josecyln
Joselyn
Joslyn

Popularity of the name Jocelyn:

According to the Social Security Administration, Jocelyn first made the list of the top 1,000 baby names in the United States during the 1920s, and it has steadily become more popular. In 2002, it broke into the top 100, and as of 2020, it's ranked at number 268.