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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201954peak #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 1954

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #91 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 308 girlsAKMaine: #137 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 676 girlsMEVermont: #147 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 716 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #106 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 467 girlsNHWashington: #132 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 606 girlsWAIdaho: #173 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 802 girlsIDMontana: #124 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 527 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #105 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 446 girlsNDMinnesota: #119 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 620 girlsMNIllinois: #144 for girls · 133 births · 1 in 749 girlsILWisconsin: #120 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 587 girlsWIMichigan: #143 for girls · 116 births · 1 in 756 girlsMINew York: #189 for girls · 148 births · 1 in 1,084 girlsNYMassachusetts: #159 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 1,109 girlsMARhode Island: #191 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,427 girlsRIOregon: #131 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 535 girlsORNevada: #101 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 307 girlsNVWyoming: #157 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 636 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #234 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,470 girlsSDIowa: #152 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 842 girlsIAIndiana: #125 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 651 girlsINOhio: #141 for girls · 143 births · 1 in 713 girlsOHPennsylvania: #154 for girls · 139 births · 1 in 813 girlsPANew Jersey: #169 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 924 girlsNJConnecticut: #166 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,032 girlsCTCalifornia: #172 for girls · 163 births · 1 in 880 girlsCAUtah: #134 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 555 girlsUTColorado: #203 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,084 girlsCONebraska: #148 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 722 girlsNEMissouri: #112 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 529 girlsMOKentucky: #116 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 620 girlsKYWest Virginia: #161 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 953 girlsWVVirginia: #173 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 1,072 girlsVAMaryland: #156 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 880 girlsMDDelaware: #133 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 653 girlsDEArizona: #143 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 587 girlsAZNew Mexico: #325 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,132 girlsNMKansas: #168 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 955 girlsKSArkansas: #141 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 716 girlsARTennessee: #117 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 596 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #140 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 717 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #192 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 980 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #129 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 575 girlsDCOklahoma: #122 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 609 girlsOKLouisiana: #189 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 930 girlsLAMississippi: #258 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,567 girlsMSAlabama: #180 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 966 girlsALGeorgia: #121 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 596 girlsGAHawaii: #48 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 204 girlsHITexas: #160 for girls · 137 births · 1 in 818 girlsTXFlorida: #130 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 628 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#48 · 1 in 204
  2. Alaska#91 · 1 in 308
  3. Nevada#101 · 1 in 307
  4. North Dakota#105 · 1 in 446
  5. New Hampshire#106 · 1 in 467

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#48291 in 204
Alaska#9181 in 308
Nevada#10161 in 307
North Dakota#105161 in 446
New Hampshire#106111 in 467
Missouri#112821 in 529
Kentucky#116551 in 620
Tennessee#117651 in 596
Minnesota#119581 in 620
Wisconsin#120711 in 587
Georgia#121771 in 596
Oklahoma#122371 in 609
Montana#124131 in 527
Indiana#125751 in 651
District of Columbia#129231 in 575
Florida#130601 in 628
Oregon#131301 in 535
Washington#132471 in 606
Delaware#13361 in 653
Utah#134181 in 555
Maine#137141 in 676
North Carolina#140721 in 717
Arkansas#141271 in 716
Ohio#1411431 in 713
Arizona#143201 in 587
Michigan#1431161 in 756
Illinois#1441331 in 749
Vermont#14751 in 716
Nebraska#148201 in 722
Iowa#152331 in 842
Pennsylvania#1541391 in 813
Maryland#156321 in 880
Wyoming#15751 in 636
Massachusetts#159451 in 1,109
Texas#1601371 in 818
West Virginia#161221 in 953
Connecticut#166211 in 1,032
Kansas#168231 in 955
New Jersey#169571 in 924
California#1721631 in 880
Idaho#17381 in 802
Virginia#173381 in 1,072
Alabama#180381 in 966
Louisiana#189411 in 930
New York#1891481 in 1,084
Rhode Island#19161 in 1,427
South Carolina#192301 in 980
Colorado#203161 in 1,084
South Dakota#23451 in 1,470
Mississippi#258181 in 1,567
New Mexico#32551 in 2,132

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 1954

girls
#151
2,367 births · 1 in 820 girls
boys
#1,706
20 births · 1 in 101,938 boys

Top girls' names in 1954

  1. #1Mary68,019
  2. #2Linda55,371
  3. #3Deborah54,674
  4. #4Patricia49,149
  5. #5Susan47,162
  6. #6Debra45,896
  7. #7Barbara36,368
  8. #8Karen32,456
  9. #9Nancy30,270
  10. #10Cynthia27,615
  11. #151Joy2,367

Top boys' names in 1954

  1. #1Michael88,568
  2. #2Robert86,331
  3. #3James86,311
  4. #4John81,168
  5. #5David79,556
  6. #6William61,426
  7. #7Richard57,042
  8. #8Thomas47,159
  9. #9Gary37,920
  10. #10Charles37,463
  11. #1,706Joy20
More about 1954

girls

1,941,915 girls got a published name in 1954; 1 in 820 of them was named Joy, which outranked 97.7% of the 6,625 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #148Jeanette2,488
  2. #149Audrey2,455
  3. #150Annie2,409
  4. #151Joy2,367
  5. #152June2,362
  6. #153Toni2,298
  7. #154Annette2,281
Biggest movers since 1953
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,699Sherree#2,699 → #1,000
  2. ↑ 1,434Sabrina#2,236 → #802
  3. ↑ 932Valinda#1,738 → #806
  4. ↑ 748Sheree#1,071 → #323
  5. ↑ 421Sherie#1,248 → #827
Fallers
  1. ↓ 396Enola#948 → #1,344
  2. ↓ 311Ila#782 → #1,093
  3. ↓ 302Nancie#816 → #1,118
  4. ↓ 282Arline#904 → #1,186
  5. ↓ 269Candyce#944 → #1,213

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

boys

2,038,751 boys got a published name in 1954; 1 in 101,938 of them was named Joy, which outranked 60.9% of the 4,360 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #1,668Tito21
  2. #1,668Wilburt21
  3. #1,668Winthrop21
  4. #1,706Joy20
  5. #1,706Acie20
  6. #1,706Albin20
  7. #1,706Ali20
  8. #1,762Abner19
  9. #1,762Ace19
  10. #1,762Alfonse19

Tied with 55 names at #1,706; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1953
Risers
  1. ↑ 592Ricci#1,331 → #739
  2. ↑ 470Demetrius#1,357 → #887
  3. ↑ 382Crawford#1,378 → #996
  4. ↑ 310Gavin#1,139 → #829
  5. ↑ 296Dino#1,058 → #762
Fallers
  1. ↓ 504Arlin#878 → #1,382
  2. ↓ 347Adan#895 → #1,242
  3. ↓ 345Dayton#966 → #1,311
  4. ↓ 302Garey#966 → #1,268
  5. ↓ 293Bartholomew#975 → #1,268

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

See the top 100 for 1954 →