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
- Peak · girls
- 1974 · 2,757 births
- Debut · girls
- 9 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 140,694since 1885
Joy over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Joy has never cracked the top 100 here.
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
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #419 | 747 | #3,949 | 27 |
| 2024 | #440 | 707 | #4,890 | 20 |
| 2023 | #450 | 683 | #5,927 | 15 |
| 2022 | #461 | 688 | #4,850 | 20 |
| 2021 | #407 | 779 | #6,335 | 13 |
| 2020 | #395 | 788 | #5,041 | 18 |
| 2019 | #343 | 918 | #6,104 | 14 |
| 2018 | #353 | 902 | #7,136 | 11 |
| 2017 | #335 | 968 | #5,297 | 17 |
| 2016 | #352 | 954 | #7,605 | 10 |
| 2015 | #430 | 734 | #6,676 | 12 |
| 2014 | #457 | 699 | #4,263 | 23 |
| 2013 | #470 | 653 | #5,923 | 14 |
| 2012 | #495 | 622 | #7,050 | 11 |
| 2011 | #502 | 585 | #7,502 | 10 |
| 2010 | #477 | 632 | #5,251 | 17 |
| 2009 | #516 | 587 | #7,692 | 10 |
| 2008 | #535 | 575 | #9,019 | 8 |
| 2007 | #520 | 604 | #7,094 | 11 |
| 2006 | #501 | 608 | #7,998 | 9 |
| 2005 | #510 | 584 | #7,640 | 9 |
| 2004 | #479 | 615 | #9,948 | 6 |
| 2003 | #494 | 583 | #5,877 | 12 |
| 2002 | #476 | 590 | #6,522 | 10 |
| 2001 | #480 | 580 | #8,339 | 7 |
| 2000 | #457 | 607 | #5,920 | 11 |
| 1999 | #448 | 596 | #6,530 | 9 |
| 1998 | #442 | 583 | #9,631 | 5 |
| 1997 | #438 | 580 | #4,668 | 13 |
| 1996 | #434 | 587 | #4,613 | 13 |
| 1995 | #434 | 593 | #7,792 | 6 |
| 1994 | #428 | 589 | #5,109 | 11 |
| 1993 | #399 | 632 | #4,227 | 14 |
| 1992 | #409 | 616 | #6,128 | 8 |
| 1991 | #362 | 710 | #3,462 | 17 |
| 1990 | #375 | 697 | #3,467 | 17 |
| 1989 | #316 | 802 | #3,446 | 16 |
| 1988 | #295 | 837 | #2,860 | 19 |
| 1987 | #286 | 862 | #3,731 | 12 |
| 1986 | #249 | 1,036 | #3,882 | 11 |
| 1985 | #230 | 1,123 | #3,401 | 13 |
| 1984 | #224 | 1,155 | #3,701 | 11 |
| 1983 | #211 | 1,191 | #3,230 | 13 |
| 1982 | #203 | 1,335 | #2,831 | 16 |
| 1981 | #170 | 1,622 | #3,221 | 13 |
| 1980 | #165 | 1,717 | #4,134 | 9 |
| 1979 | #154 | 1,821 | #2,157 | 23 |
| 1978 | #139 | 1,946 | #3,070 | 13 |
| 1977 | #136 | 2,100 | #2,458 | 18 |
| 1976 | #132 | 2,076 | #2,709 | 15 |
| 1975 | #123 | 2,306 | #3,428 | 10 |
| 1974 | #109 | 2,757 | #1,886 | 24 |
| 1973 | #162 | 1,697 | #2,513 | 15 |
| 1972 | #160 | 1,817 | #2,991 | 11 |
| 1971 | #169 | 1,826 | #2,973 | 11 |
| 1970 | #184 | 1,773 | #2,293 | 16 |
| 1969 | #187 | 1,691 | #1,914 | 19 |
| 1968 | #170 | 1,904 | #2,200 | 14 |
| 1967 | #169 | 1,885 | #2,139 | 14 |
| 1966 | #165 | 2,090 | #1,814 | 18 |
| 1965 | #177 | 1,975 | #3,244 | 7 |
| 1964 | #175 | 2,219 | #1,850 | 19 |
| 1963 | #178 | 2,181 | #2,044 | 16 |
| 1962 | #169 | 2,426 | #2,035 | 16 |
| 1961 | #158 | 2,609 | #1,686 | 23 |
| 1960 | #152 | 2,776 | #1,812 | 20 |
| 1959 | #146 | 2,880 | #1,974 | 17 |
| 1958 | #147 | 2,764 | #1,534 | 26 |
| 1957 | #143 | 2,929 | #2,019 | 16 |
| 1956 | #140 | 2,819 | #2,091 | 15 |
| 1955 | #152 | 2,389 | #1,902 | 17 |
| 1954 | #151 | 2,367 | #1,706 | 20 |
| 1953 | #151 | 2,307 | #2,709 | 9 |
| 1952 | #149 | 2,276 | #1,430 | 28 |
| 1951 | #155 | 2,012 | #1,972 | 15 |
| 1950 | #159 | 1,775 | #1,657 | 20 |
| 1949 | #171 | 1,642 | #1,702 | 19 |
| 1948 | #171 | 1,627 | #1,817 | 17 |
| 1947 | #166 | 1,815 | #1,916 | 16 |
| 1946 | #170 | 1,573 | #1,642 | 19 |
| 1945 | #168 | 1,389 | #1,697 | 16 |
| 1944 | #163 | 1,456 | #1,282 | 27 |
| 1943 | #157 | 1,610 | #1,308 | 28 |
| 1942 | #154 | 1,592 | #1,119 | 37 |
| 1941 | #150 | 1,550 | #1,333 | 25 |
| 1940 | #160 | 1,310 | #1,251 | 29 |
| 1939 | #166 | 1,259 | #1,272 | 27 |
| 1938 | #159 | 1,372 | #1,337 | 25 |
| 1937 | #162 | 1,236 | #932 | 45 |
| 1936 | #144 | 1,483 | #893 | 47 |
| 1935 | #148 | 1,349 | #980 | 42 |
| 1934 | #152 | 1,342 | #1,007 | 41 |
| 1933 | #147 | 1,291 | #1,028 | 39 |
| 1932 | #147 | 1,361 | #1,077 | 39 |
| 1931 | #152 | 1,224 | #887 | 52 |
| 1930 | #163 | 1,268 | #928 | 52 |
| 1929 | #177 | 1,138 | #1,026 | 44 |
| 1928 | #188 | 1,091 | #1,003 | 47 |
| 1927 | #183 | 1,127 | #849 | 63 |
| 1926 | #210 | 892 | #980 | 49 |
| 1925 | #236 | 772 | #851 | 61 |
| 1924 | #273 | 578 | #1,071 | 44 |
| 1923 | #277 | 540 | #1,128 | 40 |
| 1922 | #309 | 447 | #840 | 66 |
| 1921 | #332 | 392 | #1,018 | 47 |
| 1920 | #336 | 376 | #987 | 48 |
| 1919 | #358 | 322 | #867 | 58 |
| 1918 | #377 | 303 | #1,124 | 37 |
| 1917 | #393 | 256 | #1,017 | 41 |
| 1916 | #429 | 214 | #984 | 42 |
| 1915 | #445 | 190 | #1,082 | 35 |
| 1914 | #428 | 158 | #1,188 | 24 |
| 1913 | #453 | 120 | #1,075 | 22 |
| 1912 | #591 | 68 | #1,619 | 10 |
| 1911 | #522 | 63 | #1,537 | 6 |
| 1910 | #604 | 48 | #981 | 11 |
| 1909 | #509 | 54 | #1,277 | 6 |
| 1908 | #617 | 38 | — | |
| 1907 | #601 | 38 | #1,094 | 7 |
| 1906 | #555 | 40 | #1,004 | 7 |
| 1905 | #564 | 38 | #1,091 | 6 |
| 1904 | #559 | 36 | #760 | 10 |
| 1903 | #596 | 30 | #783 | 9 |
| 1902 | #518 | 38 | #794 | 9 |
| 1901 | #630 | 25 | — | |
| 1900 | #688 | 27 | #836 | 10 |
| 1899 | #644 | 23 | #1,051 | 5 |
| 1898 | #750 | 20 | #1,121 | 5 |
| 1897 | #537 | 30 | #942 | 6 |
| 1896 | #754 | 18 | #982 | 6 |
| 1895 | #622 | 24 | — | |
| 1894 | #643 | 21 | — | |
| 1893 | #955 | 10 | — | |
| 1892 | #726 | 16 | #956 | 6 |
| 1891 | #727 | 14 | — | |
| 1890 | #872 | 10 | — | |
| 1889 | #567 | 20 | — | |
| 1888 | #837 | 10 | — | |
| 1887 | #937 | 7 | — | |
| 1886 | #993 | 6 | — | |
| 1885 | #745 | 9 | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | #892 | 5 | |
| 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 1938
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Oklahoma#49 · 1 in 234
- Montana#88 · 1 in 300
- Arkansas#88 · 1 in 374
- Oregon#92 · 1 in 392
- Texas#92 · 1 in 424
Best ever in a state: #32 in Hawaii, 1977.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | #49 | 87 | 1 in 234 |
| Arkansas | #88 | 50 | 1 in 374 |
| Montana | #88 | 13 | 1 in 300 |
| Oregon | #92 | 16 | 1 in 392 |
| Texas | #92 | 136 | 1 in 424 |
| Louisiana | #99 | 58 | 1 in 383 |
| Idaho | #104 | 10 | 1 in 418 |
| Washington | #104 | 25 | 1 in 438 |
| Indiana | #109 | 42 | 1 in 621 |
| Kansas | #113 | 23 | 1 in 535 |
| Michigan | #113 | 70 | 1 in 604 |
| Missouri | #119 | 45 | 1 in 596 |
| Connecticut | #120 | 16 | 1 in 616 |
| California | #121 | 79 | 1 in 564 |
| Ohio | #124 | 80 | 1 in 638 |
| Minnesota | #130 | 28 | 1 in 750 |
| South Dakota | #132 | 8 | 1 in 574 |
| Arizona | #133 | 11 | 1 in 426 |
| Iowa | #133 | 26 | 1 in 727 |
| Illinois | #135 | 73 | 1 in 756 |
| Tennessee | #146 | 39 | 1 in 696 |
| New Mexico | #152 | 10 | 1 in 555 |
| Florida | #158 | 22 | 1 in 617 |
| Colorado | #164 | 12 | 1 in 740 |
| New Jersey | #164 | 23 | 1 in 1,074 |
| North Dakota | #164 | 7 | 1 in 753 |
| Hawaii | #169 | 5 | 1 in 605 |
| Nebraska | #173 | 8 | 1 in 1,129 |
| New York | #175 | 73 | 1 in 1,172 |
| Wisconsin | #179 | 17 | 1 in 1,404 |
| Kentucky | #182 | 31 | 1 in 911 |
| West Virginia | #182 | 19 | 1 in 1,002 |
| Pennsylvania | #187 | 54 | 1 in 1,377 |
| Maine | #189 | 6 | 1 in 1,041 |
| Utah | #192 | 6 | 1 in 797 |
| Mississippi | #203 | 23 | 1 in 981 |
| North Carolina | #221 | 27 | 1 in 1,369 |
| Alabama | #222 | 24 | 1 in 1,222 |
| Georgia | #223 | 24 | 1 in 1,284 |
| Massachusetts | #230 | 10 | 1 in 2,808 |
| Maryland | #250 | 6 | 1 in 2,073 |
| Virginia | #321 | 8 | 1 in 2,979 |
| South Carolina | #334 | 7 | 1 in 2,928 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| 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
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 52 | #567 (1889) | #816 |
| 1890s | 186 | #537 (1897) | #723 |
| 1900s | 364 | #509 (1909) | #584 |
| 1910s | 1,742 | #358 (1919) | #460 |
| 1920s | 7,353 | #177 (1929) | #252 |
| 1930s | 13,185 | #144 (1936) | #154 |
| 1940s | 15,564 | #150 (1941) | #163 |
| 1950s | 24,518 | #140 (1956) | #149 |
| 1960s | 21,756 | #152 (1960) | #170 |
| 1970s | 20,119 | #109 (1974) | #147 |
| 1980s | 11,680 | #165 (1980) | #235 |
| 1990s | 6,183 | #362 (1991) | #417 |
| 2000s | 5,933 | #457 (2000) | #497 |
| 2010s | 7,667 | #335 (2017) | #421 |
| 2020s | 4,392 | #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 1938
girls
#159
1,372 births · 1 in 804 girls
boys
#1,337
25 births · 1 in 44,366 boys
Top girls' names in 1938
Top boys' names in 1938
More about 1938
girls
1,103,456 girls got a published name in 1938; 1 in 804 of them was named Joy, which outranked 96.8% of the 4,995 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Joy
Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,109,147 boys got a published name in 1938; 1 in 44,366 of them was named Joy, which outranked 66.9% of the 4,035 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Joy
- #1,310Shelly26
- #1,310Sid26
- #1,310Sigmund26
- #1,337Joy25
- #1,337Alec25
- #1,337Ashley25
- #1,337Aubry25
- #1,364Arlon24
- #1,364Armin24
- #1,364Arnie24
Tied with 26 names at #1,337; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.