Declining since 2020, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Joss since 1977
Babies named Joss per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 11 |
| 1980s | 0 | 18 |
| 1990s | 0 | 28 |
| 2000s | 76 | 132 |
| 2010s | 133 | 151 |
| 2020s | 46 | 96 |
Meaning & origin
Joss is a short, sturdy name of uncertain origin, often taken as a diminutive of Jocelyn. It has been in recorded use in the United States since 1977, and it reached its highest popularity in recent years in 2020. However, its rank has been falling since 2020, with a recent rank of 8,910 in 2025, a year in which approximately 1 in 213,510 newborns received the name. Joss has no strong regional concentration, appearing across the country with limited frequency as reflected by its top states data.
Joss began as a short form of Jocelyn, itself derived from the Old German name Gaudelenus or from a Celtic root. In Cornish, Joss may mean 'servant' or 'follower'. It gained modest use as an independent given name in the late 20th century.
“Joss” around the world
Where Joss lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Joss
Names that share Joss's style, for a brother or sister.
