Joy
How to say it: JOY · /ˈdʒɔɪ/
From the English word joy, via Norman French joie from Latin gaudium; in regular use as a given name since the late 19th century. source 1
Joy was the 407th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 747 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1970s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to slip to #466 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #407 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 747 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,170 |
| Peak decade | 1970s |
| Change over 10 years | −3% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #466 |
| In France, 2025 | #119 among girls’ names, 540 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Joy reached its height in the 1970s and remains in steady use well below that mark. A slight slip seems likely in the near future.
What goes with it
A single crisp breath carries a gentle virtue meaning. Faith and Hope echo its style.
Nicknames
- Joycie
Other spellings
Honouring a Joy in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Joy is about 1 in 174.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #119 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Joy
- Joy Behar (born 1942)American comedian, television host, actress and writer
- Joy Harjo (born 1951)American Poet Laureate
- Joy Fawcett (born 1968)American soccer player
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Joy
In the same lists
Find names you'll both love, starting with Joy
The one-minute style quiz.