In English, name Joyce means – Cheerful. Merry. From name of 7th-century hermit St Judoc (St Judocus or St Josse), who was the son of a Breton king. In medieval England, this name was given to children of either gender, although it is now used solely as a feminine name.. Other origins for name Joyce include – English, Latin-American, Celtic. Name Joyce is most often used as a girl name or female name.