Entry № 1203 · English, French origin

Joyce Joyce — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ JOYS /
Gender
Girl
Origin
English, French
Meaning
"Joyful (Joyce Carol Oates, prolific American novelist)"
Syllables
1
Rank · US 2025
№ 700
First recorded
Medieval (Old French)

A name that means "joyful (joyce carol oates, prolific american novelist)".

Joyce is from the Old French *Josce*, ultimately from the Breton saint Iodoc ("lord"). **Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938)** — the **American novelist whose 60+ novels, short-story collections, plays, and essays since 1963 make her one of the most prolific major American writers** — perpetual Nobel nominee, recipient of the National Book Award (*them*, 1969), the PEN/Malamud Award, and the National Humanities Medal. **Joyce Banda (born 1950)** — **fourth President of Malawi (2012-2014), one of the few female presidents in African history**. **Joyce Wieland** — pioneering Canadian feminist artist.

Subject of Greg Johnson's *Invisible Writer: A Biography of Joyce Carol Oates* (1998).

Joyful. Joyce Carol Oates's sixty novels; Joyce Banda's Malawi presidency.

The name in its native script.

Joyce
Transliteration
Joyce
Pronunciation
/ dʒɔɪs /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Joyce stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 700 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 16 in 1930
Babies named Joyce · last year
410 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · #16 NOW · #700

Joyces before her.

Real people
Joyce Carol Oates
American novelist.
born 1938
Joyce Banda
President of Malawi.
born 1950
In fiction
Joyce
them.
1969

Names connected to Joyce.

The number behind Joyce.

1

The Pioneer

Joyce reduces to one — the number of prolific American novelist.

Why families chose this name.

"Carol Oates. Five letters. Joyce."
Sarah · Mother of one · Lockport