Joyce is from the Old French Josce, ultimately from the Breton saint Iodoc ("lord"). Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938) — the American novelist whose 60+ novels, short-story collections, plays, and essays since 1963 make her one of the most prolific major American writers — perpetual Nobel nominee, recipient of the National Book Award (them, 1969), the PEN/Malamud Award, and the National Humanities Medal. Joyce Banda (born 1950) — fourth President of Malawi (2012-2014), one of the few female presidents in African history. Joyce Wieland — pioneering Canadian feminist artist.
Subject of Greg Johnson's Invisible Writer: A Biography of Joyce Carol Oates (1998).
In Pythagorean numerology the letters of Joyce reduce to 4, The Builder. This is a traditional interpretive system, not a factual claim about the name.