← All names

Joyce

Girl name · 227 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Joyce: 227 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 28 births in 1976.

Joyce traces back to the medieval Breton name Iodoc, meaning “little lord,” brought to England by the Normans and initially given to boys. Its most celebrated bearer is the Irish novelist James Joyce, whose groundbreaking works like *Ulysses* reshaped modern literature. In Ireland, the region known as Joyce Country in County Galway derives its name from the Norman-Irish Joyce clan, tying the name to a specific landscape. Though once masculine, Joyce shifted to predominantly female use from the 19th century onward, a transformation shared by names like Evelyn and Leslie. With its literary prestige and soft, melodic sound, it remains a quietly enduring choice, balancing historical depth with a gentle, accessible charm.