What Does the Name Jocelyn Mean?
Jocelyn is a girl's name of English/French (from Germanic) origin meaning “member of the Gauts (a Germanic tribe); 'little Goth'.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Jocelyn |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | English/French (from Germanic) |
| Meaning | member of the Gauts (a Germanic tribe); 'little Goth' |
| Variants | Joscelyn, Jocelyne, Joslyn, Josalyn, Jocelynn |
| Popularity | A strong US performer, ranking within the top 200 for girls through the 2000s-2010s. |
The meaning and origin of Jocelyn
The name Jocelyn means “member of the Gauts (a Germanic tribe); 'little Goth'” and has English/French (from Germanic) origins. From a medieval masculine name derived from Germanic 'Gaut,' referring to the Gauts/Geats, brought to England by the Normans as Goscelin/Joscelin. Originally a man's name, it became chiefly feminine in modern usage.
Variants and related names
Jocelyn is related to several other names you may recognize: Joscelyn, Jocelyne, Joslyn, Josalyn, Jocelynn. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Jocelyn?
A strong US performer, ranking within the top 200 for girls through the 2000s-2010s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jocelyn mean?+
The name Jocelyn means “member of the Gauts (a Germanic tribe); 'little Goth'” and is of English/French (from Germanic) origin.
What is the origin of the name Jocelyn?+
Jocelyn originates from English/French (from Germanic).
Is Jocelyn a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Jocelyn has trended in the US over time.
Jocelyn by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press