Fun Facts About the Name Joy
- More than 143 thousand babies named Joy: U.S. records list 143,309 babies given the name Joy from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,629 boys received the name Joy - about 1 boy for every 54 girls.
What Does the Name Joy Mean?
Joy is an English word name meaning "gladness" or "rejoicing." Its ultimate source is Latin gaudium, "joy." The plural form gaudia was reinterpreted in Vulgar Latin as a feminine singular noun, and that form passed into Old French as joie, which was borrowed into Middle English as joye, the direct ancestor of the modern English word. Italian gioia comes from the same Late Latin source, so the English word and the Italian one are cognates rather than borrowings of each other.
The literal sense is the emotion itself, not a description or a title. As a personal name, Joy belongs to the class often called virtue names: ordinary abstract nouns adopted as given names, the way Grace, Hope, and Charity were. It is not a translation of a biblical personal name and does not come from a saint's name or a hereditary surname.
Joy is sometimes treated as a short form of Joyce or of names beginning with Jo-, but those are separate names with different origins, and the shortening is a later habit of use rather than the source of the name. Likewise, Hebrew names such as Simcha and Gil mean "joy," but they are unrelated to Joy and did not produce it.
Joy Name History & Origins
The English noun joy is recorded in Middle English from the 1200s, borrowed from Old French joie. Its life as a personal name is later and belongs chiefly to the Protestant tradition of virtue naming. In the 1500s and 1600s, English and New England families who favored such names gave daughters names like Grace, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Patience, and Joy - words chosen for the religious ideals they expressed rather than for an ancestor or a patron saint.
Alongside that independent use, Joy has served as a pet form of names beginning with Jo-, including Joyce, Joan, and Josephine. This shortening is common in English, and in a given family the name may have arrived by that route, but it does not account for the name's origin.
In the 20th century the name appears among well-known bearers such as the naturalist and author Joy Adamson (1910 - 1980) and the writer Joy Davidman (1915 - 1960), and it has been widely used as a middle name in double names for girls.
Outside the English-speaking world, Joy is common as a male given name in parts of India, particularly among Christian communities in Kerala and Bengal, and in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. In those settings it is generally an English-derived personal or baptismal name rather than a rendering of a word from a local language.
How Popular is the Name Joy?
Joy recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1957. Its best rank was #109 in 1974.
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 | #419 | 747 | 0.0465% |
| 2024 | #442 | 702 | 0.0435% |
| 2023 | #454 | 680 | 0.0424% |
| 2022 | #463 | 685 | 0.0418% |
| 2021 | #407 | 779 | 0.0475% |
| 2020 | #395 | 788 | 0.0488% |
| 2019 | #344 | 917 | 0.0547% |
| 2018 | #353 | 902 | 0.0530% |
| 2017 | #335 | 968 | 0.0561% |
| 2016 | #352 | 954 | 0.0539% |
| 2015 | #430 | 734 | 0.0411% |
| 2014 | #458 | 698 | 0.0391% |
| 2013 | #471 | 651 | 0.0371% |
| 2012 | #495 | 622 | 0.0353% |
| 2011 | #502 | 585 | 0.0333% |
| 2010 | #478 | 631 | 0.0355% |
| 2009 | #517 | 587 | 0.0320% |
| 2008 | #536 | 575 | 0.0304% |
| 2007 | #520 | 604 | 0.0314% |
| 2006 | #502 | 608 | 0.0320% |
| 2005 | #510 | 584 | 0.0316% |
| 2004 | #480 | 615 | 0.0335% |
| 2003 | #494 | 583 | 0.0319% |
| 2002 | #477 | 590 | 0.0328% |
| 2001 | #480 | 580 | 0.0322% |
| 2000 | #457 | 607 | 0.0334% |
| 1999 | #448 | 596 | 0.0336% |
| 1998 | #442 | 583 | 0.0330% |
| 1997 | #438 | 580 | 0.0333% |
| 1996 | #434 | 587 | 0.0335% |
| 1995 | #434 | 593 | 0.0337% |
| 1994 | #428 | 589 | 0.0330% |
| 1993 | #399 | 632 | 0.0349% |
| 1992 | #410 | 616 | 0.0334% |
| 1991 | #362 | 710 | 0.0379% |
| 1990 | #375 | 697 | 0.0367% |
| 1989 | #317 | 802 | 0.0435% |
| 1988 | #296 | 837 | 0.0470% |
| 1987 | #286 | 862 | 0.0496% |
| 1986 | #249 | 1,036 | 0.0604% |
| 1985 | #230 | 1,123 | 0.0653% |
| 1984 | #224 | 1,155 | 0.0686% |
| 1983 | #211 | 1,191 | 0.0713% |
| 1982 | #203 | 1,335 | 0.0788% |
| 1981 | #170 | 1,622 | 0.0972% |
| 1980 | #165 | 1,717 | 0.1034% |
| 1979 | #154 | 1,821 | 0.1134% |
| 1978 | #139 | 1,946 | 0.1270% |
| 1977 | #136 | 2,100 | 0.1370% |
| 1976 | #132 | 2,076 | 0.1417% |
| 1975 | #123 | 2,306 | 0.1582% |
| 1974 | #109 | 2,757 | 0.1879% |
| 1973 | #162 | 1,697 | 0.1164% |
| 1972 | #160 | 1,817 | 0.1194% |
| 1971 | #169 | 1,826 | 0.1097% |
| 1970 | #184 | 1,773 | 0.1014% |
| 1969 | #187 | 1,691 | 0.1002% |
| 1968 | #170 | 1,904 | 0.1161% |
| 1967 | #169 | 1,886 | 0.1142% |
| 1966 | #165 | 2,090 | 0.1235% |
| 1965 | #177 | 1,975 | 0.1119% |
| 1964 | #175 | 2,219 | 0.1171% |
| 1963 | #178 | 2,181 | 0.1132% |
| 1962 | #168 | 2,427 | 0.1234% |
| 1961 | #158 | 2,608 | 0.1292% |
| 1960 | #152 | 2,776 | 0.1373% |
| 1959 | #146 | 2,880 | 0.1423% |
| 1958 | #147 | 2,764 | 0.1374% |
| 1957 | #143 | 2,929 | 0.1432% |
| 1956 | #140 | 2,819 | 0.1404% |
| 1955 | #152 | 2,389 | 0.1222% |
| 1954 | #151 | 2,367 | 0.1219% |
| 1953 | #151 | 2,307 | 0.1226% |
| 1952 | #149 | 2,276 | 0.1227% |
| 1951 | #155 | 2,012 | 0.1117% |
| 1950 | #159 | 1,775 | 0.1036% |
| 1949 | #171 | 1,642 | 0.0960% |
| 1948 | #171 | 1,627 | 0.0958% |
| 1947 | #166 | 1,815 | 0.1024% |
| 1946 | #170 | 1,573 | 0.1001% |
| 1945 | #168 | 1,390 | 0.1063% |
| 1944 | #163 | 1,456 | 0.1097% |
| 1943 | #157 | 1,610 | 0.1154% |
| 1942 | #154 | 1,592 | 0.1179% |
| 1941 | #150 | 1,550 | 0.1283% |
| 1940 | #160 | 1,310 | 0.1146% |
| 1939 | #166 | 1,259 | 0.1148% |
| 1938 | #159 | 1,372 | 0.1243% |
| 1937 | #162 | 1,236 | 0.1162% |
| 1936 | #144 | 1,483 | 0.1425% |
| 1935 | #148 | 1,349 | 0.1287% |
| 1934 | #152 | 1,342 | 0.1285% |
| 1933 | #147 | 1,291 | 0.1281% |
| 1932 | #147 | 1,361 | 0.1275% |
| 1931 | #152 | 1,224 | 0.1150% |
| 1930 | #163 | 1,268 | 0.1126% |
| 1929 | #177 | 1,138 | 0.1019% |
| 1928 | #188 | 1,091 | 0.0946% |
| 1927 | #183 | 1,127 | 0.0945% |
| 1926 | #210 | 892 | 0.0752% |
| 1925 | #236 | 772 | 0.0634% |
| 1924 | #274 | 578 | 0.0463% |
| 1923 | #277 | 540 | 0.0448% |
| 1922 | #309 | 447 | 0.0372% |
| 1921 | #333 | 392 | 0.0318% |
| 1920 | #337 | 376 | 0.0314% |
| 1919 | #358 | 322 | 0.0285% |
| 1918 | #377 | 303 | 0.0262% |
| 1917 | #394 | 256 | 0.0237% |
| 1916 | #429 | 214 | 0.0205% |
| 1915 | #445 | 190 | 0.0193% |
| 1914 | #429 | 158 | 0.0207% |
| 1913 | #454 | 120 | 0.0192% |
| 1912 | #594 | 68 | 0.0122% |
| 1911 | #523 | 63 | 0.0151% |
| 1910 | #605 | 48 | 0.0121% |
| 1909 | #511 | 54 | 0.0156% |
| 1908 | #623 | 38 | 0.0114% |
| 1907 | #607 | 38 | 0.0119% |
| 1906 | #559 | 40 | 0.0135% |
| 1905 | #567 | 38 | 0.0130% |
| 1904 | #567 | 36 | 0.0131% |
| 1903 | #600 | 30 | 0.0115% |
| 1902 | #522 | 38 | 0.0144% |
| 1901 | #639 | 25 | 0.0104% |
| 1900 | #695 | 27 | 0.0090% |
| 1899 | #652 | 23 | 0.0099% |
| 1898 | #762 | 20 | 0.0077% |
| 1897 | #545 | 30 | 0.0128% |
| 1896 | #775 | 18 | 0.0076% |
| 1895 | #632 | 24 | 0.0103% |
| 1894 | #652 | 21 | 0.0094% |
| 1893 | #993 | 10 | 0.0047% |
| 1892 | #747 | 16 | 0.0075% |
| 1891 | #738 | 14 | 0.0075% |
| 1890 | #904 | 10 | 0.0053% |
| 1889 | #584 | 20 | 0.0112% |
| 1888 | #867 | 10 | 0.0056% |
| 1887 | #989 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1886 | #1,035 | 6 | 0.0042% |
| 1885 | #774 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,993 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2024 | #4,952 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #6,064 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #4,929 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #6,494 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #5,135 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2019 | #6,243 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #7,352 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #5,401 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #7,862 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #6,875 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #4,323 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #6,066 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #7,282 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #7,777 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #5,362 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #7,989 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #9,412 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #7,338 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #8,369 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #7,973 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #10,631 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #6,051 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #6,789 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #8,735 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #6,115 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #6,804 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #10,438 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #4,801 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #4,741 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #8,311 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #5,273 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,349 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #6,389 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #3,539 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #3,527 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #3,531 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #2,905 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1987 | #3,850 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #4,001 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #3,508 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #3,813 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #3,321 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #2,906 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #3,318 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #4,313 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #2,197 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1978 | #3,144 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #2,511 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1976 | #2,760 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #3,541 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #1,911 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1973 | #2,655 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1972 | #3,062 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #3,058 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #2,350 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #1,942 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #2,254 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #2,202 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #1,853 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #3,401 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #1,870 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1963 | #2,078 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #2,079 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #1,716 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | #1,841 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #2,010 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #1,544 | 26 | 0.0012% |
| 1957 | #2,055 | 16 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #2,133 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #1,934 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #1,732 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #2,812 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #1,445 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1951 | #2,011 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #1,681 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #1,731 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1948 | #1,852 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1947 | #1,955 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #1,672 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1945 | #1,734 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1944 | #1,298 | 27 | 0.0020% |
| 1943 | #1,329 | 28 | 0.0020% |
| 1942 | #1,128 | 37 | 0.0027% |
| 1941 | #1,352 | 25 | 0.0020% |
| 1940 | #1,267 | 29 | 0.0025% |
| 1939 | #1,289 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1938 | #1,353 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1937 | #937 | 45 | 0.0042% |
| 1936 | #901 | 47 | 0.0045% |
| 1935 | #985 | 42 | 0.0040% |
| 1934 | #1,017 | 41 | 0.0040% |
| 1933 | #1,042 | 39 | 0.0039% |
| 1932 | #1,081 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1931 | #895 | 52 | 0.0050% |
| 1930 | #934 | 52 | 0.0047% |
| 1929 | #1,034 | 44 | 0.0041% |
| 1928 | #1,014 | 47 | 0.0042% |
| 1927 | #855 | 63 | 0.0056% |
| 1926 | #988 | 49 | 0.0044% |
| 1925 | #853 | 61 | 0.0055% |
| 1924 | #1,081 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1923 | #1,132 | 40 | 0.0036% |
| 1922 | #847 | 66 | 0.0061% |
| 1921 | #1,023 | 47 | 0.0043% |
| 1920 | #996 | 48 | 0.0045% |
| 1919 | #870 | 58 | 0.0059% |
| 1918 | #1,142 | 37 | 0.0037% |
| 1917 | #1,025 | 41 | 0.0044% |
| 1916 | #992 | 42 | 0.0047% |
| 1915 | #1,096 | 35 | 0.0041% |
| 1914 | #1,208 | 24 | 0.0037% |
| 1913 | #1,090 | 22 | 0.0043% |
| 1912 | #1,684 | 10 | 0.0023% |
| 1911 | #1,641 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1910 | #1,010 | 11 | 0.0057% |
| 1909 | #1,375 | 6 | 0.0037% |
| 1907 | #1,148 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1906 | #1,063 | 7 | 0.0053% |
| 1905 | #1,169 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1904 | #785 | 10 | 0.0078% |
| 1903 | #819 | 9 | 0.0075% |
| 1902 | #827 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1900 | #874 | 10 | 0.0066% |
| 1899 | #1,133 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1898 | #1,222 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1897 | #1,014 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1896 | #1,050 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1892 | #1,022 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1883 | #972 | 5 | 0.0048% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Joy
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with J
Unique Short Girl Names That Start with J
How the Name Joy 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 seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Joy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Joy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.