Jocelyn - Meaning of Jocelyn

What does Jocelyn mean?

[ 3 syll. jo-ce-lyn, joc-el-yn ] The baby girl name Jocelyn is also used as a boy name, though it is far more popular for girls. It is pronounced as JHOWZ-eh-LihN †.

1: Jocelyn has its origins in the Old French language. It is used largely in English and German. It is derived from the word gaut which is of the meaning 'little Goths'. The name is of uncertain derivation. It is most likely from Joscelin (Old French), Goscelin (Old French), or Gautzelin (Old French), which were introduced by the Normans from France to England. The old form was originally from the name of the Germanic tribe of the Gauts or Gautelen, which can be taken to mean 'little Goths'. The name was modified with the double diminutives of '-el' and '-in' as was common in Old French. Joscelyn was widely used as a first name among medieval English speakers, but its use tapered off by the late Middle Ages, before again enjoying a revival in the 19th century, promoted by the use of the name for the John Galsworthy novel Jocelyn (1898). See Jocelyn for more information.

The name Jocelyn is used to a great extent; it has 54 forms that are used in English and foreign languages. English forms of the name include Jacelyn, Jasleen, Jaslyn, Jasolin, Jocelina, Jocelinda, Jocelle, Jocia, Jocilyn, Jocinta, Joice, Josalind, Josaline, Josceline (also used in German), Joselin, Joselina, Joselyne, Joshlyn, Josiline, Joslyn, Joslynn, Joslynne, Jossline, Josslyn, Joycelin, Jozlyn, Yocceline, Yocelin, and Yoselin (also used in Latin). Other English forms include the contracted forms Jos, Joslin, and Joss, the diminutive Joci, and the spelling variants Jocelin, Jocelyne, Jocelynn, Jocelynne, Joclyn, Josalyn, Josalynn, Joscelin (also used in Old French), Joscelyn, Joselyn, Josilin, Josilyn, Josline, Joslyne, Jossalin, Jossalyn, Josselyn, Josselynne, and Joycelyn. Forms used in foreign languages include the French Joceline and the German Joseline.

2: Jocelyn's language of origin is Breton. It is derived from the word iodoc with the meaning 'lord'. An older form of the name is Iodoc (Breton).

3: Jocelyn's origin is English. The name can be taken as a modern combination of Joyce and Lynn.

See also the related forms, the English Joyce and the English and German Lynn.

Jocelyn is popular as a baby girl name, and it is also regarded as rather trendy. The name has been growing in popularity since the 1940s. Its usage peaked modestly in 2007 with 0.251% of baby girls being named Jocelyn. It had a ranking of #50 then. In 2011, it ranked at #70 with a usage of 0.193%, and it was the most popular among all girl names in its family. Jocelyn was 4 times more regularly used than the 2nd most popular name, Joselyn, in 2011.

Baby names that sound like Jocelyn include Joselin, Jacalyn, Jacalynn, Jacilyn, Jackalene, Jackalin, Jackaline, Jackalinne, Jackalyn, Jackalynn, Jackeline, Jackelyn, Jackilyn, Jackolyn, Jackqueline, Jackquelyn, Jacoline, Jacolyn, Jacqualin, and Jacqualine.

† English pronunciation for Jocelyn: JH as in "joy (JH.OY)" ; OW as in "oak (OW.K)" ; Z as in "zoo (Z.UW)" ; EH as in "ebb (EH.B)" ; L as in "lay (L.EY)" ; IH as in "it (IH.T)" ; N as in "knee (N.IY)"