Jocelyn is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Old French word "Goscelin," which is composed of two elements: "god" meaning "God" and "sclin" meaning "slender." Thus, the name Jocelyn translates to "slender, graceful God."
The name Goscelin was quite popular during the Middle Ages in France. It was often given to boys, but it has since evolved into a feminine name in modern times. One of the earliest known references to the female form of the name occurs in 1835, when it was used by Charlotte Brontë for one of her characters in her novel "Villette."
Jocelyn has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. For example, Saint Goscelin (also spelled Goseclin or Gosselin) was a Benedictine monk from the 11th century who became known for his piety and miracles. Although he is not directly related to the name Jocelyn, his fame may have contributed to its popularity during medieval times.
In literature, besides Charlotte Brontë's use of the name in "Villette," other authors have employed it as well. For instance, American poet Sylvia Plath used the name for one of her characters in her semi-autobiographical novel "The Bell Jar."
Overall, Jocelyn is a name with a rich history and an elegant meaning that has stood the test of time. Despite its French origins, it has been adopted by many different cultures throughout the world and remains popular today as a feminine given name.
The name Joclynn has seen a varied number of births annually in the United States over the past two decades. From 1997 to 2022, there were a total of 161 babies named Joclynn born in the US.
The years with the highest number of Joclynn births were 2006 and 2017, each with 15 and 12 births respectively. Conversely, the lowest numbers of Joclynn births occurred in 1997 and 1998, with only 6 babies named Joclynn born each year.
Overall, the number of Joclynn births has fluctuated over time, but it is clear that this name remains a popular choice for parents in the United States.