Entry № 2734 · Germanic origin

Jocelyn Jocelyn — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ JOSS-eh-lin /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Germanic
Meaning
"Of the Gauts (a Germanic tribe)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 192
First recorded
Medieval (French)

A name that means "of the gauts (a germanic tribe)".

Jocelyn comes from the medieval Old French Joscelin — itself from the Germanic Gauzlin, referring to a member of the Gauts (an East Germanic tribe). It was originally a masculine name; English usage made it predominantly feminine.

Jocelyn entered the U.S. top 1000 in 1942 and has risen steadily. Today it sits in the U.S. top 200.

Of the Gauts. A medieval Germanic tribe, as a name.

The name in its native script.

Jocelyn
Transliteration
Jocelyn
Pronunciation
/ ˈdʒɒs.ə.lɪn /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Jocelyn stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 192 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 51 in 2008
Babies named Jocelyn · last year
1647 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1942
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №51 NOW · №192

Jocelyns before her.

Real people
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Northern Irish astrophysicist who discovered pulsars.
born 1943
In fiction
Jocelyn
Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Jocelyn.

The number behind Jocelyn.

1

The Pioneer

Jocelyn reduces to one — the number of bright distinct identity.

Why families chose this name.

"Three soft syllables. Jocelyn felt distinguished without being stuffy."
Hannah · Mother of one · Chicago