Joy

Meaning: Joy
Origin: English — From the word joy, first used by Puritans

Girl's name · #419 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Joy — on the books since 1885, #419 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 141,000 girls have carried the name since.

Across the states

See where Joy is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 37 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Joy ranks in other countries and regions.

#94 in France (2025) · #250 in Netherlands (2025) · #261 in Switzerland (2025) · #301 in Scotland (2025) · #377 in Canada (2025) · #467 in Italy (2024) · #499 in Belgium (2025) · #542 in England & Wales (2025) · #608 in Ireland (2025) · #782 in Sweden (2025) · #1,162 in Austria (2025) · #1,176 in Ecuador (2025) and 5 more.

Famous Joys

Joy Adamson — Austrian-British naturalist, painter, writer, collector and illustrator (1910–1980)
Joy — South Korean singer and actress (born 1996)
Joy Behar — American comedian and television host (born 1942)
Joy Bryant — American actress and model (born 1974 or 1976)
Joy Sunday — American actress (born 1995)

In stories & tradition

Joy — Inside Out (film)
Joy Meachum^it — Marvel Premiere (comics)
Joy Turner^it — My Name Is Earl (TV series)

What Joys become

Among 646 notable people named Joy:

Entertainers appear 2.04× more often than among typical names — e.g. Joy, South Korean singer and actress (born 1996).

Similar names: Joey · Heidi · Joyce · Zoie · Sylvia · Holly

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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