UK girl's name
Josselyn
A feminine name of French origin meaning "smooth" or "flat".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Josselyn is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Josselyn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Josselyn. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Josselyn ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 girls were registered as Josselyn.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Josselyn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Josselyn mean?
The name Josselyn has its origins in the French language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a variant of the Old French name Joscelin, which itself is derived from the Germanic name Gauscelinus or Goscelinus, formed from the elements "gaus" meaning "spear" and "lind" meaning "serpent".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Josselyn can be found in the 12th century, when it was borne by Josselin de Courtenay, a French nobleman and one of the leaders of the Third Crusade. Another notable bearer of the name was Josselin de Vierzy, a French trouvère and poet from the 13th century.
In England, the name gained popularity during the Middle Ages and was sometimes anglicized as Jocelyn or Joselyn. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in England was Josselyn de Brakenburg, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Josselyn. One of the most famous was Josselyn Percy (1305-1352), an English nobleman and military commander who played a prominent role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable bearer of the name was Josselyn Leventhorpe (c. 1470-1509), an English courtier and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Henry VII.
In the 17th century, the name Josselyn was borne by Josselyn Twisleton (c. 1615-1677), an English politician and member of Parliament during the English Civil War. Another notable bearer of the name from this period was Josselyn Bodley (c. 1630-1674), an English diplomat and traveler who wrote extensively about his travels in the Middle East.
The name Josselyn also has a rich literary history, with several authors and poets bearing the name. One of the most notable was Josselyn Fenton (1628-1690), an English poet and playwright who was a member of the Twickenham circle of poets. Another literary figure with the name was Josselyn Phillipps (1798-1879), an English novelist and travel writer.
While the name Josselyn has its roots in French and Germanic origins, it has been adopted and borne by individuals from various cultures and backgrounds throughout history, making it a truly global name with a rich and diverse heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Josselyn over time
The chart below shows babies named Josselyn registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Josselyn, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Josselyn by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Josselyn was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4798 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Josselyn
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Josselyn: questions and answers
How popular is the name Josselyn in the UK right now?
In 2016, Josselyn was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Josselyn most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Josselyn in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Josselyn?
A feminine name of French origin meaning "smooth" or "flat".
How many people are called Josselyn in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Josselyn across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.