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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Joss, boy or girl?

73 replies

BusterGroove · 10/12/2021 23:10

If you saw the name Joss written down would you think that person was male or female?

I’m happy for a unisex name, but not one where most people would assume boy or girl straight away (if my child is the opposite!) so I’d just like to do a quick poll!

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lollipoprainbow · 12/12/2021 08:48

My lovely nephew 30 is called Joss or Jossie or Jossikins when he was smaller !!

Iamanicepersonreally · 12/12/2021 07:43

Boy

Joystir59 · 12/12/2021 07:41

I would think of Joss sticks.

Wooky8 · 12/12/2021 07:29

Boy

SylviaTrench · 12/12/2021 07:28

Boy, Joss Naylor fell runner was the first person to come to mind

yikesanotherbooboo · 12/12/2021 07:21

I have known two female and 1 male Jos in my life; all diminutives for Jocelyn.I might err towards an assumption that a 'Joss' was male but would be open minded.

Luredbyapomegranate · 12/12/2021 01:02

Boy

HopefulHetty · 11/12/2021 22:43

Boyi

mum2jakie · 11/12/2021 22:41

Girl

lollipoprainbow · 11/12/2021 22:37

Boy

Griefmonster · 11/12/2021 22:34

Boy

user1493494961 · 11/12/2021 22:33

Boy, short for Josiah.

RestingStitchFace · 11/12/2021 22:32

Boy generally, but not unknown for a girl.

Original poster
BusterGroove · 11/12/2021 22:31

@Cominghome1230 I prefer it as a standalone name rather than a shortening. I do think it could sound like Josh, but not Josie!

Thanks for all the replies - lots to think about!

OP posts:
Ellmau · 11/12/2021 21:34

Boy.

RuthW · 11/12/2021 13:57

Girl

Derbee · 11/12/2021 13:29

Joss I would assume girl, Jos I would assume boy.

Jocelyn or Josiah probably

Disfordarkchocolate · 11/12/2021 12:42

Boy

HuntingoftheSnark · 11/12/2021 12:42

Girl, short for Josephine.

ErrolTheDragon · 11/12/2021 12:41

I'd guess male. Most of the people called joss I can think of are male.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 11/12/2021 12:39

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

Boy but wouldn't be surprised to be corrected to girl, like Joss Stone.
The exact opposite. I’d assume girl but not be shocked to corrected that it’s a boy.

It seems like you’ve found a truly unisex name!

Cominghome1230 · 11/12/2021 12:36

@BusterGroove
No, it's not short for anything. Just Joss.
She is too young to understand but we aren't bothered if people assume she is a boy and we dress her in a lot of unisex clothes too which possibly doesn't help.
Although we have had a lot of people give a positive reaction to the name, we have had quite a few puzzled looks or think her name is Josh or Josie as well.

Adelaide97 · 11/12/2021 12:17

I would think it was a boys name, but it could be a girl because it could be a nickname for Jocelyn.

lottiegarbanzo · 11/12/2021 12:15

Boy but could be either.

Traditionally short for Jocelyn, which is a male name - but in the Evelyn, Beverley, Lyndsay group of names that started as male, became unisex and are now more commonly female.

Could be Joseph. What other female name would it be short for?

RosieLemonade · 11/12/2021 12:15

Jos Buttler? I love him the name but have a Jess so can't use it. I've taught male and female Joss(es)

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