A mysterious ancient name that can swing
either girl or boy depending on what part of the
world you're in.
Origin: |
Jocelyn is a modern form of the Old French name Joscelin, of uncertain derivation. The name most likely comes from the Old Germanic name Gozelin, a hypocoristic form of other Germanic names beginning with Goz- such as Gozwin, Gozold, Gozfrid and Gozard. This first element most likely represents "Gauts" — the north Germanic tribe of Gautland. Indeed, an alternate form of Gozelin is Gautselin. The tribe themselves are thought by scholars to have derived their name from the Göta river, the etymology of which comes from the Proto Indo-European *ghu-to- "poured," presumably because the river 'pours out'. The Göta river is situated in Sweden; the surrounding area, Götaland (or Gautland), was the ancestral home of the tribe. The Normans brought the name over to Britain in the recorded forms Gotsalin, Goscelin, Gozelinus, Godzelinus, Goscelinus, and Gosselinus which then became Joselinus, Joslin, Joscelin and Jocelin. The move from G to J is not without precedence: Gozfrid can also later be found as Josfrid, and Gosbert as Josbert. Another possible source for Jocelyn is the Breton name Judoc/Jodoc, which derives from the Breton word iud "lord, ruler," and the diminutive suffix -oc. St Judoc was a famous seventh century Breton noble, the son of Prince Judicael. In French his name became Josse (which later became Joyce) and was given to several place names such as Saint-Josse-sur-Mer and possibly Josselin in Brittany. Veneration of the saint, as well as the name Josse, were also brought over to Britain by the Normans, and Josselin could conceivably have been a diminutive form. K.M. Sheard points out that the variant Jocosa was probably a medieval association with the Latin iocosus "merry". Even today, people are still citing Jocelyn as meaning "merry" even though there is no etymological connection between the two. |
Usage: |
Jocelin / Goscelin was a fairly common name across Britain and France in the Middle Ages and was borne by several notable figures. A Joscelin (or Gozlin) was bishop of Paris in the 9th century, three counts of Edessa bore the name, and a notable 12th century French theologian. Closer to home, the Domesday Book records several men in 1086 by the name of Goscelin or Joscelin and it was borne by a fair few clerics and bishops from the 11th to 14th century. So popular was the first name, it created a whole host of surnames including Jocelyn, Joscelyn, Joscelyne, Josselyn, Joslen, Joslin, Josling, Joseland, Josland, Goslin, Gosselin, Goseling, Gosling, Gostling and Gosland. The name had declined in popularity by the 16th century, though it did maintain continued use, paricularly among the peerage and the aristocratic Percy family in particular. Josceline Percys have been aplenty, including Josceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland, 5th Baron Percy (1644-1670). By the 17th century the name was majoritively male in use, though a handful of examples of girls bearing the name can be found; some having the feminised form Joselina. In several cases, Jocelyn given as a middle name was thanks to adoption of a family surname. The Victorians, with their love of all things medieval, picked up the name again in the 19th century. The 1841 UK census lists 19 Jocelyns (14 male, 5 female), in various spellings, all bar one living in England. There were 37 (30 male, 7 female) by 1861; 61 (52 male, 9 female) in 1881; 183 (124 male, 59 female) in 1901 and 339 (143 male, 194 female) in 1911. We can see here, not only the rise in popularity in the name, but also the shift at the turn of the 20th century from majoritively male to very much more unisex. As the 20th century went on, Jocelyn grew in popularity and became used more commonly for girls. In France, Jocelyn is still wholly masculine, while in America it is feminine. In Britain, Jocelyn is now majoritively feminine in usage, but still is consistantly used for a small percentage of boys, particularly among the elite. Here is a quick summary of births for Jocelyn in England and Wales over the last two decades: 1996: 19 (#1031) / 4 (#2357) The name is uncommon in Scotland. Since 2005, no more than 8 girls have been given the name in any given year, and no boys at all. |
Famous Bearers: |
History: * Joscelin / Gozlin (d.886), Bishop of Paris and 9th century French cleric. Contemporary: * Jocelyn Brando (1919—2005), American actress, sister to Marlon Brando. Literature and Other Media: * Jocelyn, an opera composed by Benjamin Godard. Other: * Jocelyn, a province in Ontario, Canada. |
Variants: |
Jocelin, Joscelin, Josceline, Joseline, Josline, Joselyn, Josslyn, Josselyn, Joycelin, Jocelyne, Joscelina, Joselina |
Pronunciation: |
JOS-ə-lin [key] |
Possible |
Jelly, Joss, Josie, Selly, Shelly |
Sibling Names: |
Camille Laura Danielle Lucille Fleur Audrey |
Name Lists: |
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Thanks to Charlotte for requesting Jocelyn.