Fun Facts About the Name Joey
- More than 61 thousand babies named Joey: U.S. records list 61,391 babies given the name Joey from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 7,643 girls received the name Joey - about 1 girl for every 7 boys.
What Does the Name Joey Mean?
Joey is an English pet form of Joseph, formed by adding the familiar -y ending to the short form Joe; it is also used as a short form of Josephine. The parent name comes from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף), built on the root yasaf, "to add." It is commonly translated "he will add" or "may he add." In the book of Genesis, Rachel names her son with a wordplay on her hope that God would add another son, so the customary sense is "may [God] add." Some scholars instead treat Yosef as a shortened form of a longer name meaning "the LORD has added," but the exact development is not certain. Joey has no separate meaning of its own; it takes its meaning from the name it shortens.
Joey Name History & Origins
English speakers were using Joe as a nickname for Joseph by the 17th century. Adding the affectionate -y ending - the same pattern that turns Thomas into Tommy and James into Jimmy - produced Joey. In the 20th century the form also came into use as a given name in its own right, and it is given to girls as well as boys, usually as a short form of Josephine.
The parent name Joseph entered English from the Hebrew Yosef by way of Greek Ioseph and Latin Josephus. It belongs to the patriarch Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, in the book of Genesis, and to Joseph, the husband of Mary, in the New Testament; the name's use in Europe followed these biblical figures.
As a character name, Joey is the title role of the Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey, the name of the horse in Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse, and Joey Tribbiani in the television series Friends. The Australian word joey, meaning a baby kangaroo or koala, is a separate term of uncertain origin and is not related to the personal name.
How Popular is the Name Joey?
Joey recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1962. Its best rank was #194 in 1976.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,474 | 146 | 0.0091% |
| 2024 | #1,375 | 164 | 0.0102% |
| 2023 | #1,349 | 167 | 0.0104% |
| 2022 | #1,413 | 161 | 0.0098% |
| 2021 | #1,290 | 177 | 0.0108% |
| 2020 | #1,427 | 153 | 0.0095% |
| 2019 | #1,609 | 132 | 0.0079% |
| 2018 | #1,456 | 151 | 0.0089% |
| 2017 | #1,519 | 146 | 0.0085% |
| 2016 | #1,488 | 154 | 0.0087% |
| 2015 | #2,067 | 95 | 0.0053% |
| 2014 | #1,750 | 119 | 0.0067% |
| 2013 | #2,469 | 73 | 0.0042% |
| 2012 | #2,271 | 83 | 0.0047% |
| 2011 | #2,132 | 90 | 0.0051% |
| 2010 | #1,967 | 102 | 0.0057% |
| 2009 | #2,067 | 99 | 0.0054% |
| 2008 | #1,906 | 111 | 0.0059% |
| 2007 | #1,647 | 135 | 0.0070% |
| 2006 | #1,666 | 127 | 0.0067% |
| 2005 | #1,457 | 146 | 0.0079% |
| 2004 | #1,609 | 121 | 0.0066% |
| 2003 | #1,470 | 133 | 0.0073% |
| 2002 | #1,924 | 92 | 0.0051% |
| 2001 | #1,854 | 95 | 0.0053% |
| 2000 | #2,066 | 80 | 0.0044% |
| 1999 | #2,161 | 70 | 0.0039% |
| 1998 | #2,071 | 71 | 0.0040% |
| 1997 | #2,373 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1996 | #2,572 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 1995 | #2,036 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 1994 | #2,426 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1993 | #2,399 | 53 | 0.0029% |
| 1992 | #2,413 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 1991 | #2,201 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 1990 | #2,666 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1989 | #2,685 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1988 | #2,344 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1987 | #2,590 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1986 | #2,283 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 1985 | #2,190 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1984 | #1,847 | 58 | 0.0034% |
| 1983 | #1,457 | 80 | 0.0048% |
| 1982 | #1,592 | 74 | 0.0044% |
| 1981 | #1,274 | 101 | 0.0061% |
| 1980 | #1,101 | 126 | 0.0076% |
| 1979 | #882 | 173 | 0.0108% |
| 1978 | #950 | 148 | 0.0097% |
| 1977 | #766 | 197 | 0.0128% |
| 1976 | #721 | 203 | 0.0139% |
| 1975 | #673 | 224 | 0.0154% |
| 1974 | #658 | 232 | 0.0158% |
| 1973 | #708 | 208 | 0.0143% |
| 1972 | #754 | 185 | 0.0122% |
| 1971 | #830 | 167 | 0.0100% |
| 1970 | #745 | 198 | 0.0113% |
| 1969 | #885 | 142 | 0.0084% |
| 1968 | #850 | 145 | 0.0088% |
| 1967 | #1,166 | 83 | 0.0050% |
| 1966 | #1,500 | 55 | 0.0033% |
| 1965 | #2,369 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #2,085 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1963 | #3,008 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #1,744 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1961 | #2,215 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1960 | #2,542 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #2,256 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1958 | #1,711 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 1957 | #1,646 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 1956 | #2,023 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1955 | #2,137 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #1,921 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1953 | #1,948 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1952 | #2,615 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #1,939 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1950 | #1,853 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #2,670 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,647 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,823 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #2,428 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #1,907 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1944 | #1,938 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1943 | #2,490 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #1,830 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #3,391 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #4,681 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,019 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #2,659 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #2,631 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1936 | #2,442 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #3,037 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #2,645 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #2,212 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1932 | #2,565 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #3,673 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #4,887 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1929 | #4,318 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #3,965 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1927 | #5,198 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #4,563 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #3,853 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #3,515 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1923 | #3,794 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #4,716 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #3,039 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #4,039 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #4,062 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #877 | 274 | 0.0160% |
| 2024 | #889 | 266 | 0.0155% |
| 2023 | #909 | 255 | 0.0149% |
| 2022 | #896 | 262 | 0.0150% |
| 2021 | #911 | 252 | 0.0144% |
| 2020 | #895 | 253 | 0.0147% |
| 2019 | #772 | 305 | 0.0170% |
| 2018 | #741 | 322 | 0.0177% |
| 2017 | #780 | 301 | 0.0163% |
| 2016 | #696 | 355 | 0.0187% |
| 2015 | #758 | 318 | 0.0166% |
| 2014 | #683 | 370 | 0.0193% |
| 2013 | #643 | 382 | 0.0202% |
| 2012 | #609 | 404 | 0.0213% |
| 2011 | #606 | 407 | 0.0214% |
| 2010 | #612 | 405 | 0.0211% |
| 2009 | #616 | 408 | 0.0206% |
| 2008 | #576 | 447 | 0.0219% |
| 2007 | #547 | 470 | 0.0226% |
| 2006 | #532 | 474 | 0.0231% |
| 2005 | #510 | 482 | 0.0241% |
| 2004 | #488 | 508 | 0.0256% |
| 2003 | #494 | 496 | 0.0251% |
| 2002 | #509 | 448 | 0.0231% |
| 2001 | #519 | 435 | 0.0224% |
| 2000 | #485 | 481 | 0.0245% |
| 1999 | #490 | 449 | 0.0234% |
| 1998 | #517 | 403 | 0.0211% |
| 1997 | #486 | 441 | 0.0234% |
| 1996 | #461 | 470 | 0.0248% |
| 1995 | #450 | 507 | 0.0266% |
| 1994 | #412 | 554 | 0.0287% |
| 1993 | #362 | 653 | 0.0333% |
| 1992 | #400 | 575 | 0.0288% |
| 1991 | #363 | 651 | 0.0322% |
| 1990 | #352 | 685 | 0.0334% |
| 1989 | #370 | 605 | 0.0302% |
| 1988 | #343 | 619 | 0.0323% |
| 1987 | #299 | 720 | 0.0386% |
| 1986 | #310 | 655 | 0.0356% |
| 1985 | #273 | 764 | 0.0413% |
| 1984 | #281 | 741 | 0.0411% |
| 1983 | #261 | 791 | 0.0441% |
| 1982 | #232 | 1,001 | 0.0552% |
| 1981 | #225 | 1,072 | 0.0598% |
| 1980 | #212 | 1,154 | 0.0647% |
| 1979 | #215 | 1,095 | 0.0636% |
| 1978 | #207 | 1,072 | 0.0653% |
| 1977 | #195 | 1,213 | 0.0738% |
| 1976 | #194 | 1,160 | 0.0739% |
| 1975 | #249 | 840 | 0.0538% |
| 1974 | #239 | 855 | 0.0544% |
| 1973 | #240 | 872 | 0.0559% |
| 1972 | #235 | 912 | 0.0562% |
| 1971 | #219 | 1,070 | 0.0605% |
| 1970 | #217 | 1,136 | 0.0611% |
| 1969 | #210 | 1,191 | 0.0666% |
| 1968 | #210 | 1,111 | 0.0639% |
| 1967 | #210 | 1,068 | 0.0612% |
| 1966 | #217 | 1,032 | 0.0579% |
| 1965 | #214 | 1,120 | 0.0602% |
| 1964 | #203 | 1,362 | 0.0683% |
| 1963 | #207 | 1,382 | 0.0681% |
| 1962 | #200 | 1,529 | 0.0739% |
| 1961 | #220 | 1,257 | 0.0592% |
| 1960 | #229 | 1,207 | 0.0566% |
| 1959 | #240 | 1,121 | 0.0525% |
| 1958 | #238 | 1,067 | 0.0503% |
| 1957 | #237 | 1,041 | 0.0483% |
| 1956 | #239 | 946 | 0.0447% |
| 1955 | #271 | 693 | 0.0336% |
| 1954 | #324 | 500 | 0.0245% |
| 1953 | #386 | 328 | 0.0166% |
| 1952 | #455 | 241 | 0.0124% |
| 1951 | #482 | 196 | 0.0104% |
| 1950 | #491 | 188 | 0.0105% |
| 1949 | #538 | 154 | 0.0087% |
| 1948 | #537 | 153 | 0.0087% |
| 1947 | #516 | 174 | 0.0095% |
| 1946 | #584 | 121 | 0.0075% |
| 1945 | #546 | 120 | 0.0089% |
| 1944 | #520 | 137 | 0.0101% |
| 1943 | #547 | 131 | 0.0092% |
| 1942 | #655 | 96 | 0.0070% |
| 1941 | #882 | 52 | 0.0042% |
| 1940 | #768 | 65 | 0.0056% |
| 1939 | #897 | 49 | 0.0044% |
| 1938 | #1,185 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1937 | #1,044 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1936 | #1,196 | 31 | 0.0030% |
| 1935 | #1,113 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1934 | #1,343 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1933 | #1,479 | 22 | 0.0022% |
| 1932 | #1,309 | 28 | 0.0027% |
| 1931 | #1,440 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #1,515 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1929 | #1,967 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #1,796 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1927 | #2,243 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1926 | #2,134 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #2,672 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1924 | #2,297 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1923 | #4,546 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #2,565 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1921 | #3,352 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #4,632 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,257 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1916 | #2,825 | 9 | 0.0010% |
| 1915 | #3,624 | 6 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Joey Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Joey's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Joey's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.