Joss
Verb usage evolved from the name of Joss Whedon, creator of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly.
Every Joss since 1977 — 691 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Joss
Joss is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,283 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1977, 691 American babies have been named Joss — about 63% boys and 37% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2005, when 41 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Joss stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Joss year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #15,989 | 8 | #9,283 |
| 2024 | 6 | #14,274 | 13 | #6,633 |
| 2023 | 9 | #10,705 | 15 | #6,066 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12,840 | 14 | #6,305 |
| 2021 | 7 | #12,796 | 19 | #5,014 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8,649 | 27 | #3,864 |
| 2019 | 9 | #10,869 | 18 | #5,250 |
| 2018 | 10 | #10,157 | 11 | #7,356 |
| 2017 | 15 | #7,634 | 20 | #4,837 |
| 2016 | 18 | #6,770 | 16 | #5,666 |
| 2015 | 20 | #6,337 | 15 | #5,866 |
| 2014 | 18 | #6,844 | 21 | #4,620 |
| 2013 | 5 | #17,842 | 16 | #5,522 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,703 | 15 | #5,844 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9,414 | 11 | #7,232 |
| 2010 | 17 | #7,347 | 8 | #9,213 |
| 2009 | 13 | #9,120 | 14 | #6,261 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7,212 | 9 | #8,647 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13,242 | 20 | #4,719 |
| 2006 | 20 | #6,467 | 14 | #5,937 |
| 2005 | 17 | #6,980 | 24 | #3,872 |
| 2004 | — | — | 10 | #7,251 |
| 2003 | — | — | 15 | #5,152 |
| 2002 | — | — | 13 | #5,559 |
| 2001 | — | — | 6 | #9,891 |
| 2000 | — | — | 7 | #8,645 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | 6 | #7,607 |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 5 | #6,738 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Joss
- Joss Ackland Actor · b. 1928
- Joss Whedon Writer · b. 1964
- Joss Stone Singer · b. 1987
- Joss Christensen Athlete · b. 1991
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joss mean?
Verb usage evolved from the name of Joss Whedon, creator of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly.
How popular is the name Joss in 2025?
Joss ranked #9,283 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Joss?
691 babies have been named Joss in the United States since 1977, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Joss most popular?
Joss peaked in 2005, when 41 newborns received the name.
Is Joss a boy or girl name?
Joss is used for both: about 37% of babies named Joss have been girls and 63% boys.
Is the name Joss rising or falling?
Joss is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Joss?
Well-known people named Joss include Joss Ackland (actor), Joss Whedon (writer), Joss Stone (singer).