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Joli
How to Pronounce Joli
Pronounced joh-LEE /ΚoΚΛliΛ/Medium
Meaning: Joli is a trimmed spelling of the French jolie, meaning 'pretty' or 'lovely'. Used as a given name, it turns a everyday French adjective into a bright, complimentary name; the spellings Jolie and Joley are close cousins.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Joli comes from the French jolie, 'pretty' or 'lovely', a word of debated older origin sometimes traced to the Old Norse jol, the midwinter feast. As a first name it reads as a direct, cheerful compliment, closely related to the fuller spellings Jolie and Joley.
It was a rare mid-century-to-modern choice, appearing from around 1950 and lingering into the twenty-first century in small numbers. A Joli could be a boomer or a young adult; the word-name feels fresh and might yet ride the taste for short, meaning-forward names.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Joli mean?
Joli is from the French jolie, meaning 'pretty' or 'lovely'.
How do you pronounce Joli?
It's said joh-LEE /ΚoΚΛliΛ/ β two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Joli a boy or girl name?
Joli is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Joli?
Joli has always been rare in the U.S., a French word-name that has stayed a quiet choice.