At a Glance
- Meaning
- Traces to a diminutive of a Celtic word for 'lord,' via the name of a 7th-century saint (Josse/Iodocus) — not actually related to the English word 'joy,' despite a long-standing folk association.
- Origin
- Breton/Old Celtic (via Old French)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- JOYSS
Joyce is a Breton/Old Celtic (via Old French) girl's name meaning “Traces to a diminutive of a Celtic word for 'lord,' via the name of a 7th-century saint (Josse/Iodocus) — not actually related to the English word 'joy,' despite a long-standing folk association.”. It appears in 3 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Joyce
Meaning: Traces to a diminutive of a Celtic word for 'lord,' via the name of a 7th-century saint (Josse/Iodocus) — not actually related to the English word 'joy,' despite a long-standing folk association..
Origin: Breton/Old Celtic (via Old French).
A common claim: Very widely believed to mean 'joy' or 'joyful,' simply because of its resemblance to the English word 'joy.' Actually: Joyce doesn't actually derive from the word 'joy' — that link is a folk etymology. The name comes from the Breton saint's name Iodoc/Josse, ultimately from a Celtic word for 'lord.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Joyce
JOYSSIPA /dʒɔɪs/
Popularity of Joyce
Lists That Include Joyce
- 200+ Retro Baby Girl Names Making a Chic Comeback
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- 100+ *Beautiful* One Syllable Girl Names (That Aren’t On Other Lists)
Similar Names
Jean · Gloria · Elaine · Marilyn · Norma · Noemi
