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Baby names

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

Original poster

Joss

54 replies

Catcheronthesly · 18/10/2016 20:41

Hi, I'm just wondering if people see Joss as a boys name or girls name? Also, do you see it as a name in its own right or only as a shortening for something else?

TIA

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TheNaze73 · 18/10/2016 21:19

Love it as a girls name

groovygreenwichgirl · 18/10/2016 21:22

Depends what it's short for.

I know a baby Joss which is short for Josiah.

Equally it could be used as a shortening for Josephine.

BarInSpace · 18/10/2016 21:27

Stick

Or Joss Stone

Talisin · 18/10/2016 21:32

Yeah, boy. Joss Whedon was my first thought too.

HoratioNightboy · 18/10/2016 21:34

I know two Josses, both male. One is a given name, no idea if the other is short for something. It would never cross my mind that it would be a girl, but I suppose if girls have appropriated Jocelyn then they'll take the short form too.

DramaAlpaca · 18/10/2016 21:40

I think of it as a boy's name first. I like it a lot.

Original poster
Catcheronthesly · 18/10/2016 22:02

Ha, I'd never thought of 'stick'!

OP posts:
Tiniti · 18/10/2016 22:16

I know a male joss he is jocelyn, he hates it. I quite like it.

Sophronia · 18/10/2016 22:36

Boy short for Joscelin or Joseph

ayeokthen · 18/10/2016 22:40

Can't believe I'm only the 4th to mention Joss Whedon, that man is a genius! In my head (probably because of Joss Whedon) it's a boys name.

HettyB · 19/10/2016 11:51

For me it's a boys name, and I think 'stick' (but I like the name!)

Honeybee79 · 19/10/2016 12:03

I have only met one Joss, a girl at school. Short for Jocelyn. Nice name!

PoppyPicklesPenguin · 19/10/2016 12:06

I love the name Joss for a girl.

I guess most would think it was short for Jocelyn? Which I don't hate but prefer Joss :)

BarInSpace · 19/10/2016 13:19

On the joss stick theme, you could have Amber, Jasmine, Lavender...

Loyly · 19/10/2016 13:23

I think of it as a female name just because of that singer Joss Stone. My first thought was 'joss stick'. I don't like it at all, sorry.

MitzyLeFrouf · 19/10/2016 15:08

Anyone else remember Jossy's Giants?

MitzyLeFrouf · 19/10/2016 15:10

Aside from Jossy's Giants it reminds me of the actor Joss Ackland.

twinjocks · 19/10/2016 15:13

I know of one Joss, a man in his 80s - it's short for Josiah. I like it.

badtime · 19/10/2016 16:30

Famous Josses I can think of: Whedon, Ackland, Stone, so 2/3 male.

Pluto30 · 19/10/2016 20:56

Girl's name.

I also thought Jocelyn was a girl's name. News to me that it's unisex. A boy named Jocelyn would never go down well here.

WetsTheFinger · 19/10/2016 20:57

Love it for a girl

Chinlo · 19/10/2016 21:34

To me it's a boy's name. Only girl I know called Joss is Joss Stone, and we all know how female American pop stars like to use boys names.

Original poster
Catcheronthesly · 19/10/2016 21:57

Is Joss Stone American?!?

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Original poster
Catcheronthesly · 19/10/2016 21:57

Oh & whats Jossy's Giants?

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Pigeonpost · 19/10/2016 21:59

I know a female Joss short for Jocelyn and a male Joss short for Josiah.