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Home › Baby Names Directory › Jocelin

Jocelin

♀ Girl

Pronounced JOS-uh-lin /ˈdʒɒs.ə.lɪn/High

Meaning: Jocelin is an older spelling of Jocelyn, from the Germanic name Gaudelenus or Gautzelin — a diminutive linked to the Gauts, a Germanic people. Norman settlers brought it to England as a boys' name; it later became a girls' name.Low

In 30 seconds: A Norman name in its older dress: Jocelin is Jocelyn, from a Germanic name of the Gauts (said 'JOS-uh-lin').
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Origin MediumGermanic, French
MeaningJocelin is an older spelling of Jocelyn, from the Germanic name Gaudelenus or Gautzelin — a diminutive linked to the Gauts, a Germanic people. Norman settlers brought it to England as a boys' name; it later became a girls' name.
U.S. rank (2024)#14212 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,604

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719662024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jocelin is a medieval spelling of Jocelyn, which came into English from the Norman French form of a Germanic name — Gautzelin or Gaudelenus, a diminutive connected with the Gauts, a Germanic people. It served as a boys' name for centuries; only in the twentieth century did it become chiefly a girls' name (said 'JOS-uh-lin').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S., while Jocelyn is far more common. Rare, medieval, and refined.

Did you know? Jocelyn arrived in England with the Normans — and for centuries it was a boys' name. Jocelin preserves the older spelling; the girls' use is the modern turn (said 'JOS-uh-lin').
Overall data confidence 52%
References — Jocelin — Jocelyn variant; Germanic Gautzelin via Norman French

Variations

JocelynJosselinJocelyne

Nicknames

JossJosLyn

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jocelin…

Jocelyn— the standard spelling of the same name
Jacqueline— a like French-derived classic
Evelyn— a like three-beat -lyn name
Rosalind— a like medieval-flavored pick

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By themegermanicvariantmedievalnorman

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jocelin mean?

Jocelin is a spelling of Jocelyn, from a Germanic name connected with the Gauts, brought to England by the Normans.

How do you pronounce Jocelin?

It's said JOS-uh-lin /ˈdʒɒs.ə.lɪn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jocelin a boy or girl name?

Jocelin is now used as a girl's name, though it was historically a boys' name.

How popular is Jocelin?

Jocelin is rare in the U.S.; the spelling Jocelyn is much more common.

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