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The short answer
Joy is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Simply from the English word joy, ultimately derived from Norman French joie, Latin gaudium. It has been regularly used as a given name since the late 19th century." It ranked #419 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, simply from the English word joy, ultimately derived from Norman French joie, Latin gaudium. It has been regularly used as a given name since the late 19th century. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Joy ranked #419 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #419 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Joy in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joy mean?
Behind the Name does not give Joy a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: simply.
Is Joy a popular name?
Joy ranked #419 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Joy a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Joy appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Joy — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
