Joss
38% girls · 62% boys
About Joss
Joss is more fashionable than Jocelyn or Josslyn. This is a short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone. One of a troupe of adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls a la Lou and Charlie.
Joss for boys#9283 US
Succinct and to the point, Joss may appeal to those who enjoy the likes of Jude, Jesse, Jem, and Ozzy. Brought into the spotlight by Joss Whedon , creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and various Marvel movies, it has never been hugely popular in the US, given to a small handful of babies each year -- though recent controversy surrounding the filmmaker may put future parents off.
Derived from Jocelyn, referring to an Old Germanic tribe, or from the Biblical Joseph, it nevertheless could make a cool, one-syllable option for boys.
Pronounced JOSS.
As of November 2026, Joss ranked #15989 for girls and #9283 for boys in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #6337 for girls in 2015 and #3862 for boys in 2020, Nameberry popularity #922 for boys.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #4,619 | 21 | 10.9 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | #4,835 | 20 | 10.8 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | #3,862 | 27 | 15.6 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
World rankings
Joss for boys
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Joss on lists
Famous Josss
- Joss StoneGirl
British singer/songwriter
- Joss WhedonBoy
American director, writer, and producer
Joss in pop culture
- Joss GreyGirl
character in Rumer Godden's novel "The Greengage Summer"
- Joss SedleyBoy
character in William Makepeace Thackery's "Vanity Fair"