Joy

#419 for girls in 2025, 747 births · #3,949 for boys in 2025, 27 births
Given to girls 98.2% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1974 · 2,757 births
Debut · girls
9 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
140,694
since 1885

Joy over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Joy has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201916peak #109, 1974girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#419747#3,94927
2024#440707#4,89020
2023#450683#5,92715
2022#461688#4,85020
2021#407779#6,33513
2020#395788#5,04118
2019#343918#6,10414
2018#353902#7,13611
2017#335968#5,29717
2016#352954#7,60510
2015#430734#6,67612
2014#457699#4,26323
2013#470653#5,92314
2012#495622#7,05011
2011#502585#7,50210
2010#477632#5,25117
2009#516587#7,69210
2008#535575#9,0198
2007#520604#7,09411
2006#501608#7,9989
2005#510584#7,6409
2004#479615#9,9486
2003#494583#5,87712
2002#476590#6,52210
2001#480580#8,3397
2000#457607#5,92011
1999#448596#6,5309
1998#442583#9,6315
1997#438580#4,66813
1996#434587#4,61313
1995#434593#7,7926
1994#428589#5,10911
1993#399632#4,22714
1992#409616#6,1288
1991#362710#3,46217
1990#375697#3,46717
1989#316802#3,44616
1988#295837#2,86019
1987#286862#3,73112
1986#2491,036#3,88211
1985#2301,123#3,40113
1984#2241,155#3,70111
1983#2111,191#3,23013
1982#2031,335#2,83116
1981#1701,622#3,22113
1980#1651,717#4,1349
1979#1541,821#2,15723
1978#1391,946#3,07013
1977#1362,100#2,45818
1976#1322,076#2,70915
1975#1232,306#3,42810
1974#1092,757#1,88624
1973#1621,697#2,51315
1972#1601,817#2,99111
1971#1691,826#2,97311
1970#1841,773#2,29316
1969#1871,691#1,91419
1968#1701,904#2,20014
1967#1691,885#2,13914
1966#1652,090#1,81418
1965#1771,975#3,2447
1964#1752,219#1,85019
1963#1782,181#2,04416
1962#1692,426#2,03516
1961#1582,609#1,68623
1960#1522,776#1,81220
1959#1462,880#1,97417
1958#1472,764#1,53426
1957#1432,929#2,01916
1956#1402,819#2,09115
1955#1522,389#1,90217
1954#1512,367#1,70620
1953#1512,307#2,7099
1952#1492,276#1,43028
1951#1552,012#1,97215
1950#1591,775#1,65720
1949#1711,642#1,70219
1948#1711,627#1,81717
1947#1661,815#1,91616
1946#1701,573#1,64219
1945#1681,389#1,69716
1944#1631,456#1,28227
1943#1571,610#1,30828
1942#1541,592#1,11937
1941#1501,550#1,33325
1940#1601,310#1,25129
1939#1661,259#1,27227
1938#1591,372#1,33725
1937#1621,236#93245
1936#1441,483#89347
1935#1481,349#98042
1934#1521,342#1,00741
1933#1471,291#1,02839
1932#1471,361#1,07739
1931#1521,224#88752
1930#1631,268#92852
1929#1771,138#1,02644
1928#1881,091#1,00347
1927#1831,127#84963
1926#210892#98049
1925#236772#85161
1924#273578#1,07144
1923#277540#1,12840
1922#309447#84066
1921#332392#1,01847
1920#336376#98748
1919#358322#86758
1918#377303#1,12437
1917#393256#1,01741
1916#429214#98442
1915#445190#1,08235
1914#428158#1,18824
1913#453120#1,07522
1912#59168#1,61910
1911#52263#1,5376
1910#60448#98111
1909#50954#1,2776
1908#61738—
1907#60138#1,0947
1906#55540#1,0047
1905#56438#1,0916
1904#55936#76010
1903#59630#7839
1902#51838#7949
1901#63025—
1900#68827#83610
1899#64423#1,0515
1898#75020#1,1215
1897#53730#9426
1896#75418#9826
1895#62224—
1894#64321—
1893#95510—
1892#72616#9566
1891#72714—
1890#87210—
1889#56720—
1888#83710—
1887#9377—
1886#9936—
1885#7459—
1884——
1883—#8925
1882——
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1885

The first year at least five girls were named Joy! It came in at #745, and was given to 9 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1885–1887, when fewer than 10 girls a year got the name.

Where Joy is popular in 1916

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedIDMontana: #182 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,024 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #293 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,405 girlsMNIllinois: #355 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 4,137 girlsILWisconsin: #325 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,361 girlsWIMichigan: #256 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,151 girlsMINew York: #557 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 13,425 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedRIOregon: #184 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 972 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedSDIowa: #387 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,139 girlsIAIndiana: #269 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,371 girlsINOhio: #418 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 5,997 girlsOHPennsylvania: #572 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 14,877 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #224 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,504 girlsCAUtah: #190 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 891 girlsUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedCONebraska: #237 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,609 girlsNEMissouri: #423 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,121 girlsMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: #349 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,038 girlsWVVirginia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNMKansas: #305 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,466 girlsKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedARTennessee: #406 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,851 girlsTNNorth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #178 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 873 girlsOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedHITexas: #392 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,502 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#178 · 1 in 873
  2. Montana#182 · 1 in 1,024
  3. Oregon#184 · 1 in 972
  4. Utah#190 · 1 in 891
  5. California#224 · 1 in 1,504

Best ever in a state: #32 in Hawaii, 1977.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#178211 in 873
Montana#18251 in 1,024
Oregon#18451 in 972
Utah#19051 in 891
California#224131 in 1,504
Nebraska#23771 in 1,609
Michigan#256151 in 2,151
Indiana#269101 in 2,371
Minnesota#29391 in 2,405
Kansas#30561 in 2,466
Wisconsin#32571 in 3,361
West Virginia#34951 in 3,038
Illinois#355141 in 4,137
Iowa#38751 in 4,139
Texas#392181 in 2,502
Tennessee#40661 in 3,851
Ohio#41881 in 5,997
Missouri#42371 in 4,121
New York#55771 in 13,425
Pennsylvania#57261 in 14,877
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Kentucky———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Mississippi———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Carolina———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Virginia———
Washington———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Joy
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 21 spots since 2024 (#440 → #419)
  • 24 spots since 2020 (#395 → #419)
  • 11 spots since 2015 (#430 → #419)
  • Biggest jump: 312 spots in 1894 (#955 → #643)
  • Biggest drop: 305 spots in 1890 (#567 → #872)
Rise & fade · girls
89 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1885
  • Peaked 1974 at #109 (2,757 births)
  • Births halved by 1982, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 141 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 141 yrs · run 1885–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 532
  • Highest: 1 in 532 girls born in 1974 were named Joy (0.19%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,152 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 17.4% of all girls named Joy (24,518) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s52#567 (1889)#816
1890s186#537 (1897)#723
1900s364#509 (1909)#584
1910s1,742#358 (1919)#460
1920s7,353#177 (1929)#252
1930s13,185#144 (1936)#154
1940s15,564#150 (1941)#163
1950s24,518#140 (1956)#149
1960s21,756#152 (1960)#170
1970s20,119#109 (1974)#147
1980s11,680#165 (1980)#235
1990s6,183#362 (1991)#417
2000s5,933#457 (2000)#497
2010s7,667#335 (2017)#421
2020s4,392#395 (2020)#429

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Joy in 1916

girls
#429
214 births · 1 in 4,880 girls
boys
#984
42 births · 1 in 21,192 boys

Top girls' names in 1916

  1. #1Mary61,438
  2. #2Helen32,661
  3. #3Dorothy27,418
  4. #4Margaret24,953
  5. #5Ruth23,189
  6. #6Mildred15,633
  7. #7Anna15,228
  8. #8Elizabeth14,940
  9. #9Frances13,746
  10. #10Virginia12,487
  11. #429Joy214

Top boys' names in 1916

  1. #1John50,043
  2. #2William40,418
  3. #3James35,569
  4. #4Robert31,741
  5. #5Joseph23,883
  6. #6Charles23,612
  7. #7George23,381
  8. #8Edward17,005
  9. #9Frank15,291
  10. #10Thomas11,998
  11. #984Joy42
More about 1916

girls

1,044,334 girls got a published name in 1916; 1 in 4,880 of them was named Joy, which outranked 91.7% of the 5,161 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #426Lorna218
  2. #427Clare215
  3. #427Lucinda215
  4. #429Joy214
  5. #429Robbie214
  6. #431Agatha213
  7. #431Beryl213
  8. #431Jannie213

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1915
Risers
  1. ↑ 567Trinidad#1,317 → #750
  2. ↑ 388Coral#1,367 → #979
  3. ↑ 377Coletta#1,317 → #940
  4. ↑ 370Clifford#1,285 → #915
  5. ↑ 327Maida#1,231 → #904
Fallers
  1. ↓ 364Louis#934 → #1,298
  2. ↓ 354Herminia#944 → #1,298
  3. ↓ 346Gertha#900 → #1,246
  4. ↓ 344Lahoma#934 → #1,278
  5. ↓ 310Hassie#900 → #1,210

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

890,080 boys got a published name in 1916; 1 in 21,192 of them was named Joy, which outranked 78.3% of the 4,535 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #972Selmer43
  2. #972Weston43
  3. #972Williard43
  4. #984Joy42
  5. #984Arley42
  6. #984Armin42
  7. #984Arvin42
  8. #998Armond41
  9. #998Baxter41
  10. #998Burnice41

Tied with 13 names at #984; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1915
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,568Tatsuo#3,392 → #824
  2. ↑ 1,088Hughes#1,878 → #790
  3. ↑ 410Angel#1,181 → #771
  4. ↑ 378Trinidad#1,181 → #803
  5. ↑ 354Rolla#1,306 → #952
Fallers
  1. ↓ 500Nicolas#804 → #1,304
  2. ↓ 468Collins#906 → #1,374
  3. ↓ 463Hilliard#952 → #1,415
  4. ↓ 383Arvo#952 → #1,335
  5. ↓ 363Rayford#941 → #1,304

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1916 →