Given name & surname · also Old French
Joy
“a delight; one who brings pleasure to others”
Joy is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “a delight; one who brings pleasure to others.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “a delight; one who brings pleasure to others.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old French.
The story
Joy was in use during the 17th century.
Joy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 143,324
- 2,630 boys · 140,694 girls
- Most popular year
- 1957
- 2,945 babies
- 2025
- 774
- #419 for girls · #3,993 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 2% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 747 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 419 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 20.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,929 in 1957. It also appeared in 27 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (93). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 117,520 as a first name in 2020; 13,910 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.
Joy’s family of names
In English usage, Joy has a related form in Joi. Joy has a related form in Joie. In English usage, Joy has a related form in Joye.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Joy has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Joy
- Joy AdamsonAustrian-British naturalist, painter, writer, collector and illustrator (1910–1980)
- AyoGerman singerborn 1980
- Joy BeharAmerican comedian, television host, actress and writerborn 1942
- Joy HarjoAmerican Poet Laureateborn 1951
- Joy FawcettAmerican soccer playerborn 1968
- Joy JorgensenAmerican actressborn 1989
- Joy BryantAmerican actress and modelborn 1974
- Pamela Rendi-WagnerAustrian physician and politician (born 1971)
- Joy BuolamwiniAmerican computer scientist and digital activistborn 1989
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Joy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Janice
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Janine
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Rexanne
“a queen full of grace”
>99% girls
Jeanne
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Roxane
“born with the morning's first light”
>99% girls
Lara
“lara” · “one who is protected; a cheerful woman”
>99% girls
Amber
“resembling the jewel; a warm honey color”
>99% girls
Janelle
“God is gracious”
>99% girls