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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201962peak #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 1962

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #139 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 450 girlsAKMaine: #236 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,417 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNHWashington: #155 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 645 girlsWAIdaho: #107 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 402 girlsIDMontana: #264 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,243 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #104 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 364 girlsNDMinnesota: #120 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 474 girlsMNIllinois: #166 for girls · 124 births · 1 in 830 girlsILWisconsin: #125 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 572 girlsWIMichigan: #147 for girls · 108 births · 1 in 760 girlsMINew York: #189 for girls · 167 births · 1 in 978 girlsNYMassachusetts: #143 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 842 girlsMARhode Island: #186 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,119 girlsRIOregon: #188 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 856 girlsORNevada: #119 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 392 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #158 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 670 girlsSDIowa: #187 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 943 girlsIAIndiana: #145 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 645 girlsINOhio: #161 for girls · 130 births · 1 in 757 girlsOHPennsylvania: #148 for girls · 140 births · 1 in 745 girlsPANew Jersey: #179 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 935 girlsNJConnecticut: #163 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 911 girlsCTCalifornia: #185 for girls · 195 births · 1 in 890 girlsCAUtah: #161 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 621 girlsUTColorado: #208 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 959 girlsCONebraska: #159 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 683 girlsNEMissouri: #141 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 617 girlsMOKentucky: #141 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 685 girlsKYWest Virginia: #221 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,344 girlsWVVirginia: #175 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 894 girlsVAMaryland: #174 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 887 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: #172 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 671 girlsAZNew Mexico: #341 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,922 girlsNMKansas: #145 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 620 girlsKSArkansas: #152 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 735 girlsARTennessee: #105 for girls · 76 births · 1 in 468 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #137 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 596 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #189 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 906 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #153 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 653 girlsDCOklahoma: #148 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 644 girlsOKLouisiana: #190 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 951 girlsLAMississippi: #233 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,177 girlsMSAlabama: #147 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 681 girlsALGeorgia: #142 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 615 girlsGAHawaii: #56 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 212 girlsHITexas: #187 for girls · 132 births · 1 in 838 girlsTXFlorida: #140 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 615 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#56 · 1 in 212
  2. North Dakota#104 · 1 in 364
  3. Tennessee#105 · 1 in 468
  4. Idaho#107 · 1 in 402
  5. Nevada#119 · 1 in 392

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#56301 in 212
North Dakota#104171 in 364
Tennessee#105761 in 468
Idaho#107151 in 402
Nevada#11971 in 392
Minnesota#120801 in 474
Wisconsin#125741 in 572
North Carolina#137801 in 596
Alaska#13961 in 450
Florida#140801 in 615
Kentucky#141451 in 685
Missouri#141691 in 617
Georgia#142711 in 615
Massachusetts#143611 in 842
Indiana#145751 in 645
Kansas#145321 in 620
Alabama#147491 in 681
Michigan#1471081 in 760
Oklahoma#148321 in 644
Pennsylvania#1481401 in 745
Arkansas#152241 in 735
District of Columbia#153201 in 653
Washington#155431 in 645
South Dakota#158101 in 670
Nebraska#159211 in 683
Ohio#1611301 in 757
Utah#161171 in 621
Connecticut#163261 in 911
Illinois#1661241 in 830
Arizona#172231 in 671
Maryland#174331 in 887
Virginia#175451 in 894
New Jersey#179611 in 935
California#1851951 in 890
Rhode Island#18671 in 1,119
Iowa#187291 in 943
Texas#1871321 in 838
Oregon#188181 in 856
New York#1891671 in 978
South Carolina#189281 in 906
Louisiana#190401 in 951
Colorado#208201 in 959
West Virginia#221121 in 1,344
Mississippi#233211 in 1,177
Maine#23671 in 1,417
Montana#26451 in 1,243
New Mexico#34161 in 1,922
Delaware
New Hampshire
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 1962

girls
#169
2,426 births · 1 in 811 girls
boys
#2,035
16 births · 1 in 129,298 boys

Top girls' names in 1962

  1. #1Lisa46,069
  2. #2Mary43,502
  3. #3Susan35,752
  4. #4Karen35,184
  5. #5Linda31,461
  6. #6Patricia26,532
  7. #7Donna25,719
  8. #8Cynthia24,025
  9. #9Deborah22,889
  10. #10Sandra22,420
  11. #169Joy2,426

Top boys' names in 1962

  1. #1Michael85,059
  2. #2David81,337
  3. #3John78,427
  4. #4James72,555
  5. #5Robert70,199
  6. #6Mark53,520
  7. #7William44,853
  8. #8Richard39,422
  9. #9Thomas36,529
  10. #10Jeffrey33,537
  11. #2,035Joy16
More about 1962

girls

1,966,603 girls got a published name in 1962; 1 in 811 of them was named Joy, which outranked 97.8% of the 7,584 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #166Glenda2,457
  2. #167Jo2,449
  3. #168Marcia2,428
  4. #169Joy2,426
  5. #170Carmen2,411
  6. #171Doris2,379
  7. #172Patty2,332
Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. 1,281Tiffany#2,070#789
  2. 879Whitney#1,627#748
  3. 541Zina#1,533#992
  4. 414Glynis#1,406#992
  5. 408Lolita#978#570
Fallers
  1. 300Fern#821#1,121
  2. 259Jacklyn#815#1,074
  3. 255Dorthy#929#1,184
  4. 224Laurene#943#1,167
  5. 215Jimmie#911#1,126

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

boys

2,068,772 boys got a published name in 1962; 1 in 129,298 of them was named Joy, which outranked 56.1% of the 4,631 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #1,962Waylon17
  2. #1,962Webb17
  3. #1,962Zackery17
  4. #2,035Joy16
  5. #2,035Acie16
  6. #2,035Adelbert16
  7. #2,035Adrien16
  8. #2,117Aris15
  9. #2,117Arno15
  10. #2,117Arsenio15

Tied with 81 names at #2,035; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. 490Ritchie#1,262#772
  2. 353King#1,349#996
  3. 338Arlie#1,322#984
  4. 250Robb#1,052#802
  5. 243Pernell#928#685
Fallers
  1. 351Mariano#928#1,279
  2. 349Michal#910#1,259
  3. 337Loran#958#1,295
  4. 292Sid#967#1,259
  5. 275Lorenza#940#1,215

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

See the top 100 for 1962