Meaning: Its source is Iodoc, a Breton name meaning "Lord."

Origin: "Iodoc."

Source Forms: Iodoc

Meaning: Its source is Iodoc, a Breton name meaning "Lord."

Origin: "Iodoc."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Dutch and English.

Nicknames: Joycie

Alternative Spellings: Joice

Variant Forms: Joysel, Loyce and Joyous

Popularity: The name Joyce ranked 595th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 49th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: This was originally a male given name, then a surname. The Breton source, Iodoc, was translated into Latin as Jodocus. The Norman French transformed it into Josce, and when they invaded Britain, it made its first showing among English-speaking people in the form of Josse.

The name has had periods of popularity as both a boy's name and a girl's name. Some authorities believe it owes its current popularity among girls to its similarity to the happiest of girls' names -- Joy.