Given name & surname
Joey
“God shall add”·“God will add”
In French use, Joey is a diminutive of Joseph. Yosef means “God shall add,” traditionally understood as a hope that God would add another son to the family. In English use, Joey is an affectionate form of Joe. In English use, Joe carries the interpretation “God will add.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In French use, Joey is a diminutive of Joseph. Yosef means “God shall add,” traditionally understood as a hope that God would add another son to the family. In English use, Joey is an affectionate form of Joe. In English use, Joe carries the interpretation “God will add.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In French use, Joey is a diminutive of Joseph. Joseph is the English and French form of the Hebrew name Yosef.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Joey is used as an affectionate form of JoE. In French use, Joey is a diminutive of Joseph. The shared background comes through Joseph: The English and French name continues the biblical Hebrew form Yosef. The idea of adding is part of the name’s original family context, rather than a later personality interpretation.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In French use, Joey is a diminutive of Joseph. The history of Joseph gives this family its wider story. In Genesis, Joseph is Jacob’s son who is taken to Egypt and later reconciled with his brothers. In the New Testament, Joseph is also the husband of Mary, giving the name a distinct place in Christian tradition.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Joey through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 61,402
- 53,758 boys · 7,644 girls
- Most popular year
- 1962
- 1,572 babies
- 2025
- 420
- #877 for boys · #1,474 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −6%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 65% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 274 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 877 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 14.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,529 in 1962. It also appeared in 146 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (64). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 57,447 as a first name in 2020; 126 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Joey’s family of names
In French usage, Joey is a diminutive of Joseph. Joey has a related form in Joe. In English usage, Joey is a diminutive of Joe.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Joey has relatives in 3 languages.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Joey
- Joey KingAmerican actress (born 1999)
- Joey BartonEnglish professional football manager and former player (born 1982)
- Joey Lauren AdamsAmerican actressborn 1968
- Joey VeermanDutch association football player (born 1998)
- Joey O'BrienIrish footballer and manager (born 1986)
- Joey JonesWelsh association football player (1955–2025)
- Joey LawrenceAmerican actor, singer and songwriterborn 1976
- Joey BishopAmerican entertainer (1918–2007)
- Joey DidulicaCroatian-Australian footballer (born 1977)
Characters named Joey: Joey Tribbiani (Friends), Joey Zasa (The Godfather series), Joey Quinn (character on the television series Dexter).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Joey, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jody
“woman from Judea” · “God will add”
70% boys · 30% girls
Jona
“dove” · “God has given”
63% boys · 37% girls
José
“God shall add”
50% boys · 50% girls
Joosepe
“God shall add”
—
Joza
“God shall add”
86% boys · 14% girls
Happy
“a joyful woman” · “filled with joy”
45% boys · 55% girls
Jopie
“God shall add”
57% boys · 43% girls
Jozka
“God shall add”
—