Declining since 2007, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Yocelyn since 1987
Babies named Yocelyn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 180 |
| 2000s | 440 |
| 2010s | 251 |
| 2020s | 55 |
Meaning & origin
Yocelyn is a modern, rare spelling of the more common Jocelyn. It first entered U.S. records in 1987, reaching its peak popularity in 2007, when it ranked notably higher. Since then, its usage has been on a clear falling trajectory. In 2025, it was the 11,932nd most popular name, translating to a 1 in 229,610 occurrence among girls. The name's appeal likely stems from the fashionable 'y' initial and the soft, feminine sound of the -lyn suffix. While it has no documented top state concentrations, it fits a style that blends traditional roots with contemporary inventiveness.
Yocelyn is a modern spelling variant of Jocelyn, which derived from the Old French name Joscelin, itself from a Germanic root meaning 'a member of the Gauts' (an ancient tribe). The name was originally masculine in medieval England but shifted to mostly feminine use by the 20th century. Yocelyn emerged in the late 1980s, likely as a creative respelling influenced by the popularity of names like Yvonne and the y- prefix trend.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yoce, Lyn, Yossi
Sibling names for Yocelyn
Names that share Yocelyn's style, for a brother or sister.
