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The short answer
Jocelyn is a feminine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From a Frankish masculine name, variously written as Gautselin, Gauzlin, along with many other spellings. It was derived from the Germanic element *gautaz, which was from the name of the Germanic tribe the Geats, combined with a Latin diminutive suffix." It ranked #393 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from a Frankish masculine name, variously written as Gautselin, Gauzlin, along with many other spellings. It was derived from the Germanic element *gautaz, which was from the name of the Germanic tribe the Geats, combined with a Latin diminutive suffix. The entry lists its usage as English, French.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Jocelyn ranked #393 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #393 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Jocelyn in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jocelyn mean?
Behind the Name does not give Jocelyn a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from a Frankish masculine name, variously written as Gautselin, Gauzlin, along with many other spellings.
Is Jocelyn a popular name?
Jocelyn ranked #393 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Jocelyn a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Jocelyn appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine & masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Jocelyn — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
