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Joy as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Joy

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The baby name Joy is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /dʒɔɪ/.

Joy is English in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /dʒɔɪ/

What is the meaning of the name Joy ?

The baby name Joy is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /dʒɔɪ/.

Joy is English in Origin.

Joy is an English given name taken directly from the noun meaning delight, gladness, and exultation. The word entered Middle English as joye/joie from Old French joie, ultimately from Latin gaudium. As a virtue name, Joy appears in 17th‑century Puritan records alongside Grace and Hope, and it enjoyed renewed popularity in the early to mid‑20th century across the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English‑speaking countries. While occasionally unisex, it is predominantly feminine.

Variants include the spellings Joi and Joye, with modern elaborations such as Joyelle, Joyanna, Joylyn, and Joylene, and hyphenated forms like Joy-Anna or Joy-Marie. Joy is also used as a short form of Joyce (though Joyce has a different origin from Breton Judoc, “lord”). Cross‑linguistic counterparts expressing the same meaning include Italian Gioia, Greek Chara, Spanish Alegría, French Joie (rare as a given name), Hebrew Simcha or Rina, and Arabic Farah.

Joy has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Joy

Joy Actor · Born 1996 · South Korea Joy, born in 1996, is a well-known South Korean singer and actress. She gained fame as a member of the popular girl group Red Velvet and has starred in dramas like 'The Liar and His Lover' and 'Tempted'. Da'Vine Joy Randolph Actor · Born 1986 · United States Joy Randolph is an American actress best known for her acclaimed role in The Holdovers, which won her an Academy Award. She has also appeared in Dolemite Is My Name and Only Murders in the Building, and has earned major honors including a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. Joy Page Actor · Born 1924 · United States Joy Page was an American actress best known for her role as Annina Brandel in the classic film Casablanca. Born in 1924, she captured audiences with her performance in this iconic movie, which remains a significant part of her legacy.
Joy Lauren Actor · Born 1989 · United States Joy Lauren is an American actress best known for her role as Danielle Van de Kamp on the popular television series Desperate Housewives. Born in 1989, she played the daughter of Bree Van de Kamp, portrayed by Marcia Cross, and appeared in the show from 2004 to 2012. Joy Harjo Musician · Born 1951 · United States Joy Harjo is a prominent American musician and poet, best known for her work as the first Native American Poet Laureate of the United States. Her poetry collections like 'An American Sunrise' and 'She Had Some Horses' have received significant acclaim. Harjo's music often incorporates Native American themes and instruments, blending them with jazz and blues influences. Joy Bryant Actor · Born 1974 · United States Joy Bryant is an American actor best known for her role as Jasmine Trussell in the television series Parenthood. She also appeared in films like Antwone Fisher and Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Celebrity babies named Joy

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Joy Smet Laeticia Boudou model ★★★★★ Johnny Hallyday television actor ★★★★★

Joy – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2019 #1 — 436
NG Girls 0 #3 25,876 15,093
PH 0 #4 159 5,607
PH Girls 0 #5 1,383 13,098
KH Boys 0 #9 1 270
NG 0 #13 575 5,926
KR Girls 0 #14 2 572
BF Girls 0 #17 1 315
BW 0 #19 1 960
BN 0 #31 2 2,297
MV Girls 0 #31 5 2,021
BD Boys 0 #33 3,631 10,045
BD 0 #33 360 5,992
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
KW Girls 0 #34 1,167 19,177
MO 0 #35 18 2,706
TW 0 #38 66 4,523
QA Girls 0 #40 443 15,378
MT 0 #42 2 1,767
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
JM 0 #46 42 3,714
CM 0 #51 6 2,592
QA 0 #52 49 7,011
JM Girls 0 #54 347 7,507
MV Boys 0 #59 19 3,375
LU 0 #61 6 2,830
CN 0 #62 24 3,857
BN Girls 0 #63 44 5,459
OM Girls 0 #68 453 15,987
IN 0 #70 2 2,963
CN Girls 0 #71 610 8,829
JP 0 #71 7 4,057
TW Girls 0 #71 275 8,139
France Girls 2021 #72 749 3,185
AO 0 #74 4 2,729
AF 0 #75 2 1,883
AE Girls 0 #78 870 20,968
OM 0 #80 37 6,215
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
KW 0 #90 27 5,216
SG Girls 0 #93 1,130 18,916
AF Girls 0 #94 1 2,402
KZ 0 #94 1 1,452
AE 0 #95 83 10,220
ID Girls 0 #99 4 3,319
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
BW Girls 0 #105 44 4,216
BN Boys 0 #107 27 6,332
Switzerland Girls 2024 #111 25 1,786
CY Girls 0 #112 10 3,755
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
EC 0 #120 2 2,502
ID Boys 0 #122 10 4,130
SG 0 #124 160 11,010
MO Girls 0 #127 134 7,056
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
IQ 0 #132 2 3,533
MT Girls 0 #132 20 3,773
GR 0 #134 2 3,911
PA 0 #135 4 3,797
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
JO 0 #138 3 2,158
SA Girls 0 #138 1,744 25,931
BH 0 #140 621 17,937
LU Girls 0 #140 47 4,850
CR 0 #145 14 5,526
BW Boys 0 #150 5 4,685
NA Girls 0 #153 72 7,146
Belgium Girls 2024 #158 28 424
PR Girls 0 #165 3 3,171
PR Boys 0 #171 8 2,508
Sweden Girls 2022 #172 8 1,568
HU Boys 0 #173 2 3,954
MT Boys 0 #178 2 4,064
BD Girls 0 #181 238 8,413
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
DK 0 #189 15 5,198
AR 0 #190 4 2,915
TW Boys 0 #190 52 7,111
RU 0 #192 3 3,641
MO Boys 0 #198 26 5,842
HK Girls 0 #199 749 16,104
OM Boys 0 #199 1,380 17,948
AO Boys 0 #200 43 5,568
GH Girls 0 #200 145 6,973
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
SA 0 #202 94 10,560
JP Girls 0 #203 43 6,592
ZA Girls 0 #205 2,912 25,928
PS 0 #208 11 5,692
GH 0 #213 31 5,396
LU Boys 0 #213 8 4,970
AO Girls 0 #217 1 4,575
AL Girls 0 #219 9 4,141
BG Boys 0 #219 2 3,850
Canada Girls 2024 #220 66 2,795
HU Girls 0 #222 4 3,308
NA Boys 0 #223 13 6,830
BG Girls 0 #229 3 3,559
GR Girls 0 #229 14 6,293
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
EC Boys 0 #242 5 3,322
CN Boys 0 #243 79 9,639
PT 0 #247 4 4,161
DK Girls 0 #248 69 7,429
ZA 0 #250 202 14,421
EC Girls 0 #251 8 3,650
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
IL 0 #259 16 6,291
QA Boys 0 #259 577 18,093
HK 0 #265 85 8,483
SG Boys 0 #265 598 17,960
AF Boys 0 #273 2 3,535
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
JO Girls 0 #275 51 7,570
KZ Boys 0 #280 10 6,578
MY 0 #280 51 12,352
GH Boys 0 #282 65 8,138
KW Boys 0 #284 682 18,755
PH Boys 0 #285 99 11,440
JP Boys 0 #288 10 7,909
LY 0 #289 277 12,703
JM Boys 0 #290 4 6,876
AL Boys 0 #295 9 5,122
MU Boys 0 #301 57 8,477
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
LB 0 #304 466 13,263
NL 0 #305 87 2,481
Canada Boys 2022 #306 5 2,557
KZ Girls 0 #306 15 5,862
IN Boys 0 #310 1,221 16,750
SD Girls 0 #319 27 7,678
PE 0 #323 7 6,350
DK Boys 0 #326 7 7,401
NL Girls 0 #328 1,027 5,933
MU Girls 0 #332 20 8,539
BR 0 #334 12 5,969
GT 0 #334 5 5,948
PL Boys 0 #338 3 6,459
Finland Girls 0 #339 53 1,368
CZ Girls 0 #346 6 5,378
PT Boys 0 #352 16 7,951
CM Girls 0 #355 194 11,671
AE Boys 0 #356 1,239 22,615
PL Girls 0 #359 6 5,096
YE 0 #360 22 8,639
JO Boys 0 #363 15 7,057
EG 0 #366 35 6,387
Austria Girls 0 #371 50 1,885
United States Girls 2024 #375 702 8,487
France Boys 2021 #376 12 2,865
MX 0 #394 20 8,339
CL 0 #396 16 6,867
BO 0 #405 4 6,868
Finland Boys 0 #411 17 2,041
UY Boys 0 #411 3 5,922
PS Girls 0 #416 108 10,981
Germany 0 #419 19 2,542
HK Boys 0 #420 110 12,905
Spain 0 #421 32 2,326
CR Girls 0 #427 106 11,342
SD Boys 0 #431 15 10,523
PT Girls 0 #432 20 7,952
Austria Boys 0 #433 10 2,180
PA Girls 0 #434 48 9,861
PA Boys 0 #439 43 9,305
RU Girls 0 #452 47 11,913
AR Boys 0 #457 11 7,628
IQ Girls 0 #462 43 11,303
CO 0 #468 13 7,768
CR Boys 0 #468 20 10,188
RU Boys 0 #471 35 12,621
IL Girls 0 #490 129 11,648
MY Girls 0 #491 602 24,821
GT Boys 0 #497 3 7,625
NG Boys 0 #500 626 16,906
UY Girls 0 #500 11 6,731
EG Girls 0 #503 577 14,742
PS Boys 0 #511 38 10,655
CM Boys 0 #516 35 12,054
MY Boys 0 #518 734 25,439
IT Girls 0 #527 1,679 9,415
GT Girls 0 #538 4 7,500
IR Girls 0 #540 6 8,334
IR Boys 0 #541 12 10,162
SA Boys 0 #550 1,937 28,008
IN Girls 0 #556 76 13,121
Germany Girls 0 #561 306 4,949
IL Boys 0 #563 45 10,983
AR Girls 0 #569 31 8,289
IT 0 #593 123 4,183
BO Girls 0 #599 13 9,488
BO Boys 0 #617 6 9,244
ZA Boys 0 #624 684 25,619
IQ Boys 0 #625 43 13,071
CL Boys 0 #633 33 13,390
SY 0 #634 95 11,684
Spain Girls 0 #645 366 5,561
Finland Boys 2026 #673 10 3,552
Finland Girls 2026 #676 63 3,895
BR Boys 0 #714 38 12,213
CL Girls 0 #716 136 14,098
NL Boys 0 #750 203 5,873
EG Boys 0 #761 126 15,035
PE Boys 0 #799 80 14,506
TN 0 #806 24 13,765
MX Boys 0 #811 174 16,355
IT Boys 0 #842 694 10,046
BR Girls 0 #865 77 12,708
CO Boys 0 #868 53 15,656
United States Boys 2024 #873 20 7,044
Spain Boys 0 #874 57 5,610
PE Girls 0 #898 46 14,861
Germany Boys 0 #919 34 5,697
MX Girls 0 #1,008 176 17,781
MA 0 #1,011 118 20,986
CO Girls 0 #1,021 58 16,140
DZ 0 #1,122 55 20,130
TR 0 #1,138 74 19,440

Joy is popular in 88 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
France
Canada
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Joy

Joy is predominantly a girl's name.
Joy is a one syllable name, pronounced /dʒɔɪ/.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Joi, Joie, Joye, Jo and Joyce.
Across languages, Joy has these equivalents: Joie (French), Gioia (Italian), Alegría (Spanish), Laetitia / Letitia (Latin-derived), Radostina (Slavic).
Yes, very popular — Joy ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Joy ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Joy's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 9 notable people named Joy are in our database, including Joy (Actor), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Actor), Joy Page (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Joy for their child, including Laeticia Boudou and Johnny Hallyday.