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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201928peak #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 1928

  • 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: #88 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 333 girlsWAIdaho: #122 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 438 girlsIDMontana: #139 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 633 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #151 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 789 girlsNDMinnesota: #174 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,276 girlsMNIllinois: #150 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 882 girlsILWisconsin: #163 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,207 girlsWIMichigan: #161 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 1,113 girlsMINew York: #235 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 1,900 girlsNYMassachusetts: #246 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,035 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedRIOregon: #100 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 427 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #82 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 348 girlsSDIowa: #122 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 628 girlsIAIndiana: #166 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,149 girlsINOhio: #147 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 896 girlsOHPennsylvania: #218 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 1,945 girlsPANew Jersey: #233 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,313 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #124 for girls · 66 births · 1 in 557 girlsCAUtah: #39 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 176 girlsUTColorado: #107 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 420 girlsCONebraska: #181 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,127 girlsNEMissouri: #171 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 924 girlsMOKentucky: #202 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,068 girlsKYWest Virginia: #202 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,084 girlsWVVirginia: #352 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,573 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: #156 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 565 girlsAZNew Mexico: #215 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 857 girlsNMKansas: #116 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 488 girlsKSArkansas: #139 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 561 girlsARTennessee: #199 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,167 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #463 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,366 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #310 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,633 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #90 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 387 girlsOKLouisiana: #107 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 408 girlsLAMississippi: #318 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,242 girlsMSAlabama: #231 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,354 girlsALGeorgia: #246 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,654 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedHITexas: #103 for girls · 132 births · 1 in 456 girlsTXFlorida: #183 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 855 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Utah#39 · 1 in 176
  2. South Dakota#82 · 1 in 348
  3. Washington#88 · 1 in 333
  4. Oklahoma#90 · 1 in 387
  5. Oregon#100 · 1 in 427

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#39261 in 176
South Dakota#82161 in 348
Washington#88281 in 333
Oklahoma#90611 in 387
Oregon#100131 in 427
Texas#1031321 in 456
Colorado#107201 in 420
Louisiana#107531 in 408
Kansas#116291 in 488
Idaho#12281 in 438
Iowa#122301 in 628
California#124661 in 557
Arkansas#139331 in 561
Montana#13961 in 633
Ohio#147591 in 896
Illinois#150651 in 882
North Dakota#15181 in 789
Arizona#15671 in 565
Michigan#161371 in 1,113
Wisconsin#163201 in 1,207
Indiana#166221 in 1,149
Missouri#171311 in 924
Minnesota#174161 in 1,276
Nebraska#181101 in 1,127
Florida#183161 in 855
Tennessee#199231 in 1,167
Kentucky#202261 in 1,068
West Virginia#202181 in 1,084
New Mexico#21551 in 857
Pennsylvania#218451 in 1,945
Alabama#231231 in 1,354
New Jersey#233131 in 2,313
New York#235521 in 1,900
Georgia#246191 in 1,654
Massachusetts#246111 in 3,035
South Carolina#31081 in 2,633
Mississippi#318101 in 2,242
Virginia#35271 in 3,573
North Carolina#46361 in 6,366
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Maryland———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———
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 1928

girls
#188
1,091 births · 1 in 1,057 girls
boys
#1,003
47 births · 1 in 23,566 boys

Top girls' names in 1928

  1. #1Mary66,871
  2. #2Betty36,083
  3. #3Dorothy33,733
  4. #4Helen22,937
  5. #5Margaret20,295
  6. #6Ruth17,859
  7. #7Doris16,575
  8. #8Barbara14,872
  9. #9Virginia14,500
  10. #10Shirley14,215
  11. #188Joy1,091

Top boys' names in 1928

  1. #1Robert60,701
  2. #2John53,760
  3. #3James52,752
  4. #4William49,118
  5. #5Charles31,243
  6. #6Richard28,793
  7. #7Donald25,704
  8. #8George24,391
  9. #9Joseph22,322
  10. #10Edward18,492
  11. #1,003Joy47
More about 1928

girls

1,153,318 girls got a published name in 1928; 1 in 1,057 of them was named Joy, which outranked 96.5% of the 5,440 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #185Colleen1,099
  2. #186Bettie1,098
  3. #187Estelle1,094
  4. #188Joy1,091
  5. #189Eula1,088
  6. #190Eloise1,082
  7. #190Nora1,082
Biggest movers since 1927
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,165Jeanine#3,053 → #888
  2. ↑ 1,368Joline#2,256 → #888
  3. ↑ 1,101Lorelei#2,095 → #994
  4. ↑ 1,063Jeannine#1,384 → #321
  5. ↑ 859Romona#1,456 → #597
Fallers
  1. ↓ 860Valencia#924 → #1,784
  2. ↓ 547Kazuko#955 → #1,502
  3. ↓ 386Matilde#924 → #1,310
  4. ↓ 368Glendora#747 → #1,115
  5. ↓ 366Hilma#924 → #1,290

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

boys

1,107,613 boys got a published name in 1928; 1 in 23,566 of them was named Joy, which outranked 78.8% of the 4,723 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #992Jere48
  2. #992Reyes48
  3. #992Silvio48
  4. #1,003Joy47
  5. #1,003Adan47
  6. #1,003Arch47
  7. #1,003Armond47
  8. #1,019Allie46
  9. #1,019Arley46
  10. #1,019Darl46

Tied with 15 names at #1,003; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1927
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,009Fidencio#1,959 → #950
  2. ↑ 766Hoover#1,128 → #362
  3. ↑ 700Reyes#1,692 → #992
  4. ↑ 441Arlen#1,227 → #786
  5. ↑ 392Arland#1,372 → #980
Fallers
  1. ↓ 2,975Shoji#722 → #3,697
  2. ↓ 529Alvan#951 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 418Watson#964 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 412Judge#911 → #1,323
  5. ↓ 363Donato#990 → #1,353

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

See the top 100 for 1928 →