Joyce

Joyce is a female given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the French word "joie," which means happiness or joy. The name was popularized by Irish writer James Joyce, who used it as the protagonist's name in his novel "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." Before that, however, the name had already been used in Ireland for centuries, often as a nickname or shortened form of names like Josephine or Joycelyne. Despite its Irish roots and widespread usage in Ireland, Joyce is considered a unisex name and can be given to boys as well. It gained popularity globally during the 20th century, particularly after James Joyce's works became widely known.