Joy
/ˈd͡ʒɔɪ/
Joy comes from the English word meaning “happiness” or “delight,” derived through Norman French joie from the Latin gaudium. It is one of the purest virtue names in the English language.
The name has been used since the late 19th century, though it gained its strongest following in the mid-20th century. It belongs to the same tradition as Hope, Grace, and Faith.
Joy ranked No. 442 in 2024 with 702 births. It peaked at No. 109 in 1974 with 2,757 births, a favourite of the 1960s and 1970s.
What the name Joy means
Pixar’s Inside Out (2015) personified Joy as a glowing yellow character, giving the name renewed cultural visibility among young families.
One syllable - JOY - is as brief and bright as the emotion it names. The name is impossible to mishear or misspell.
Parents choosing Joy embrace its simplicity and its profound emotional resonance. It says everything in three letters.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Joy
Joy - similar names
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