Joy Name Meaning

The meaning of the name “Joy” is simple and straightforward: it means joy. But it’s also a name that carries a lot of positive connotations. It suggests a happy, joyful person, and it’s hard to imagine anyone with this name being a sourpuss.

Origins of the Name Joy

When it comes to girl’s names, “Joy” is a classic that has stood the test of time. But where did this name come from, and how did it become so popular? Let’s take a little trip through history to find out.

The name “Joy” can be traced back to the Middle English word “joie,” which means exactly what you would expect: joy. But the name wasn’t commonly used as a given name for girls until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before that, it was more commonly used as a surname, as in “Richard Joy” or “Edward Joy.”

Popularity of the Name Joy

While the name “Joy” has always been a popular choice for girls, it has seen its fair share of ups and downs in terms of popularity. In the early 20th century, it was a relatively common name, but it fell out of favor in the middle of the century. However, in the 1980s, it started to make a comeback, and it has remained a popular choice ever since.

In recent years, the name “Joy” has become increasingly popular, particularly in the United States, where it has consistently been a top 1000 name.

Final Thoughts on the Name Joy

The name Joy is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, bringing light and happiness wherever it goes. It’s been around for centuries, but it never gets old. It’s a classic, like a good pair of blue jeans or a favorite pair of slippers. It’s comfortable and always in style, but it also has a little bit of spunk and sass.

It’s a name that’s hard to say without smiling, and it’s hard to imagine anyone with this name being a grump. It’s like a built-in mood booster. It’s like having a personal cheerleader, but better, because it’s a name and you don’t have to share it with anyone else.

In conclusion, Joy is a timeless classic that’s perfect for any girl looking for a happy, joyful name. It’s easy to say, easy to spell, and easy to love. So, if you’re looking for a name that’s sure to bring a smile to your face, “Joy” is the way to go.

Infographic of Joy name meaning, which is From the Latin gaudia, Joy means happiness.
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Joy Name Popularity

How popular is the name Joy? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 777 8 0.0023%
1911 991 5 0.0013%
1912 808 13 0.0026%
1913 533 56 0.0099%
1914 468 94 0.0135%
1915 454 135 0.0149%
1916 420 179 0.0185%
1917 395 211 0.0211%
1918 366 272 0.0253%
1919 366 272 0.026%
1920 335 339 0.0305%
1921 331 352 0.0307%
1922 307 413 0.0371%
1923 275 515 0.046%
1924 273 547 0.0471%
1925 236 753 0.0666%
1926 208 883 0.0803%
1927 183 1,102 0.0996%
1928 185 1,079 0.1008%
1929 177 1,105 0.1067%
1930 163 1,236 0.1183%
1931 152 1,203 0.1219%
1932 147 1,332 0.1348%
1933 147 1,265 0.1358%
1934 151 1,327 0.1373%
1935 147 1,332 0.1371%
1936 144 1,470 0.1526%
1937 162 1,213 0.1231%
1938 159 1,358 0.1327%
1939 165 1,244 0.1223%
1940 159 1,298 0.1221%
1941 151 1,525 0.1355%
1942 154 1,569 0.1243%
1943 157 1,598 0.1224%
1944 163 1,433 0.1156%
1945 168 1,373 0.1126%
1946 169 1,560 0.1057%
1947 166 1,808 0.1083%
1948 170 1,615 0.1012%
1949 171 1,625 0.101%
1950 159 1,766 0.1097%
1951 155 2,006 0.1183%
1952 149 2,265 0.1298%
1953 152 2,293 0.1296%
1954 151 2,368 0.1295%
1955 152 2,374 0.1291%
1956 141 2,810 0.1488%
1957 143 2,921 0.1518%
1958 147 2,752 0.1456%
1959 146 2,875 0.1513%
1960 151 2,767 0.146%
1961 158 2,610 0.1382%
1962 169 2,412 0.1314%
1963 178 2,171 0.1209%
1964 174 2,210 0.1256%
1965 178 1,955 0.1195%
1966 165 2,083 0.1334%
1967 169 1,879 0.1238%
1968 170 1,888 0.1257%
1969 189 1,669 0.1083%
1970 182 1,759 0.1105%
1971 168 1,814 0.1207%
1972 162 1,799 0.1321%
1973 162 1,688 0.1302%
1974 108 2,752 0.2117%
1975 122 2,302 0.1791%
1976 132 2,066 0.1603%
1977 136 2,089 0.155%
1978 138 1,936 0.144%
1979 154 1,812 0.1285%
1980 165 1,703 0.1165%
1981 169 1,610 0.1095%
1982 202 1,320 0.0883%
1983 213 1,154 0.0782%
1984 225 1,132 0.0761%
1985 231 1,090 0.0718%
1986 251 1,005 0.0666%
1987 283 838 0.0549%
1988 296 806 0.0517%
1989 315 772 0.0478%
1990 374 660 0.0398%
1991 364 671 0.0412%
1992 416 569 0.0356%
1993 400 585 0.0375%
1994 420 561 0.0366%
1995 431 562 0.0373%
1996 433 551 0.0368%
1997 433 551 0.0373%
1998 445 545 0.0364%
1999 451 552 0.0369%
2000 452 584 0.0382%
2001 473 549 0.0364%
2002 478 553 0.0369%
2003 495 543 0.0357%
2004 479 576 0.0378%
2005 509 546 0.0357%
2006 497 575 0.0367%
2007 515 569 0.0361%
2008 533 535 0.0346%
2009 511 550 0.0368%
2010 476 588 0.0408%
2011 501 540 0.0379%
2012 486 583 0.0409%
2013 458 622 0.0437%
2014 447 666 0.0457%
2015 420 702 0.0482%
2016 339 922 0.0639%
2017 330 914 0.0655%
2018 344 852 0.062%
2019 337 865 0.0639%
2020 398 730 0.0574%
2021 399 701 0.0573%
2022 464 648 0.0491%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Joy

If you like Joy, you’ll love these other names like Joy.

What names are variants of Joy?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Joy.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Gioia

Joy

Italian

Gioya

Joy

Latin

Jioia

Joy

Latin

Jioya
Joi

Joy

Latin

Joia

Joy

Latin

Joice

Joy; lord

Latin

Joie

French

Joya

Joy

Latin

Joyann

Joy

Latin

Joyanna

Joy

Latin

Joyanne

Joy

Latin

Joye

Joy

Latin

Joyelle

Joy

Latin

What names sound like Joy?

If you like how Joy sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Joy.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Jay

Blue crested bird

Latin

Jey

Blue crested bird

Latin

Jo

A diminutive form of Josephine.

American

Joey

Jehovah increases

Hebrew

Lists With Joy

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Joy.

Siblings of Joy

Mamas with kids named Joy also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Hannah

Grace

Hebrew

Bonnie

Fine, attractive, pretty

Scottish

Grace

Gracious one

English

Noah

To rest

Hebrew

Aliya

Rising, ascending

Hebrew

Kylie

Boomerang

Aboriginal

Ryann

King

Irish

Ezra

Help

Hebrew

Isabella

Devoted to God

Italian

Brielle

God is my strength

French

Hallie

A variant spelling of Hally.

Scandinavian

Charlie

Free man

English

Josef

Jehovah increases

Hebrew

Taylor

Tailor; to cut

French

Reece

Enthusiasm

Welsh

Faith

Devotion

English

Elizabeth

God is my oath

Hebrew

William

A willing protector

German

Marie

A French form of Mary.

French

Jordyn

To descend

Hebrew

Jubilee

Ram's horn

Hebrew

David

Beloved

Hebrew

Robert

Bright fame

German

Eden

Paradise

Hebrew

Tre

Three

English

Pete

Rock

Greek

11 Comments

  1. Joy was my paternal grandmother’s name. Her middle name is Charlotte which is her paternal grandmother’s name.

    Reply

  2. The name Joy is primarily a female name of Latin origin that means Happiness.

    It is a unisex name.

    Peaceful, joyful.

    Reply

  3. Joy was my late Mom’s name,and i named my daughter Joy,because my Mom was so special,loving and caring woman.I like the verse in the Bible that says the Joy of the Lord is my strength,so God gave us Joy to bring joy,peace and Love in our family.She is so special to us and blessed baby

    Reply

  4. We had this name picked out for so long. The Lord gave it to us before we were even married and we stored it away in our hearts. How beautiful to see it come to fruition and how perfectly it suits her!

    Reply

  5. I just knew, about month 4 of being pregnant, that my growing baby girl’s name is Joy. I think she told me in a dream… the world needs more joy in it, now more than ever, and she is that Joy!

    Reply

  6. Wanted a biblical name or something from the Bible.

    Reply

  7. Joy is just my joy. she started smiling from day one and she has been happy since. rarely cries.
    She makes me happy.

    Reply

  8. Joy is our daughters middle name

    Reply

  9. I have always loved “Joy” for a name – it always brings a smile to one’s face anytime one says it. But I wanted something joined to it to make it POP and stand out. So, I paired it with “Bonnie” — creating “BonnieJoy” for the first name of our 2nd baby girl.

    Reply

  10. I love the name Joy because it stands for Jesus Others You and it’s just so pretty!

    Reply

    • I was told that my name means J for Jesus O for others Y for yourself.
      I am pleased to see it in your reviews.
      I have always tried to live my life in that trinity sequence even before I was told what it meant.
      As a Christian I am very humbly proud that it is mentioned multiple times in the bible.
      I also get great satisfaction from helping others.
      It may appear that I put myself last but as in the meaning of my name I believe that Jesus looks after those who has time for others.
      Thank you for reading.
      God bless
      Joy Clarke

      Reply

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