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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201977peak #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 1977

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedAKMaine: #148 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 656 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #162 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 756 girlsNHWashington: #131 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 651 girlsWAIdaho: #207 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 896 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #113 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 495 girlsNDMinnesota: #96 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 454 girlsMNIllinois: #148 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 738 girlsILWisconsin: #126 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 617 girlsWIMichigan: #145 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 732 girlsMINew York: #159 for girls · 129 births · 1 in 789 girlsNYMassachusetts: #175 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 949 girlsMARhode Island: #72 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 294 girlsRIOregon: #142 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 669 girlsORNevada: #131 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 509 girlsNVWyoming: #88 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 339 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #109 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 430 girlsSDIowa: #105 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 498 girlsIAIndiana: #138 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 691 girlsINOhio: #153 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 754 girlsOHPennsylvania: #120 for girls · 114 births · 1 in 582 girlsPANew Jersey: #137 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 693 girlsNJConnecticut: #133 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 619 girlsCTCalifornia: #175 for girls · 174 births · 1 in 860 girlsCAUtah: #165 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 774 girlsUTColorado: #134 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 610 girlsCONebraska: #82 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 359 girlsNEMissouri: #189 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 939 girlsMOKentucky: #100 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 482 girlsKYWest Virginia: #126 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 560 girlsWVVirginia: #107 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 486 girlsVAMaryland: #74 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 348 girlsMDDelaware: #85 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 310 girlsDEArizona: #153 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 638 girlsAZNew Mexico: #198 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 806 girlsNMKansas: #147 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 676 girlsKSArkansas: #149 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 684 girlsARTennessee: #85 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 419 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #76 for girls · 96 births · 1 in 344 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #94 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 399 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #168 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 672 girlsDCOklahoma: #181 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 805 girlsOKLouisiana: #165 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 756 girlsLAMississippi: #181 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 790 girlsMSAlabama: #137 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 622 girlsALGeorgia: #116 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 530 girlsGAHawaii: #32 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 161 girlsHITexas: #207 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 1,025 girlsTXFlorida: #114 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 527 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#32 · 1 in 161
  2. Rhode Island#72 · 1 in 294
  3. Maryland#74 · 1 in 348
  4. North Carolina#76 · 1 in 344
  5. Nebraska#82 · 1 in 359

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#32291 in 161
Rhode Island#72151 in 294
Maryland#74531 in 348
North Carolina#76961 in 344
Nebraska#82281 in 359
Delaware#8591 in 310
Tennessee#85671 in 419
Wyoming#8871 in 339
South Carolina#94441 in 399
Minnesota#96571 in 454
Kentucky#100511 in 482
Iowa#105381 in 498
Virginia#107581 in 486
South Dakota#109101 in 430
North Dakota#11391 in 495
Florida#114821 in 527
Georgia#116621 in 530
Pennsylvania#1201141 in 582
West Virginia#126221 in 560
Wisconsin#126471 in 617
Nevada#13161 in 509
Washington#131351 in 651
Connecticut#133231 in 619
Colorado#134281 in 610
Alabama#137371 in 622
New Jersey#137531 in 693
Indiana#138511 in 691
Oregon#142221 in 669
Michigan#145781 in 732
Kansas#147201 in 676
Illinois#148981 in 738
Maine#14891 in 656
Arkansas#149191 in 684
Arizona#153251 in 638
Ohio#153931 in 754
New York#1591291 in 789
New Hampshire#16261 in 756
Louisiana#165371 in 756
Utah#165191 in 774
District of Columbia#16891 in 672
California#1751741 in 860
Massachusetts#175311 in 949
Mississippi#181201 in 790
Oklahoma#181211 in 805
Missouri#189331 in 939
New Mexico#198101 in 806
Idaho#20771 in 896
Texas#207981 in 1,025
Alaska———
Montana———
Vermont———

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 1977

girls
#136
2,100 births · 1 in 730 girls
boys
#2,458
18 births · 1 in 91,290 boys

Top girls' names in 1977

  1. #1Jennifer58,964
  2. #2Melissa26,879
  3. #3Amy26,729
  4. #4Jessica24,846
  5. #5Heather23,773
  6. #6Angela20,998
  7. #7Michelle19,540
  8. #8Kimberly18,286
  9. #9Amanda18,278
  10. #10Kelly18,234
  11. #136Joy2,100

Top boys' names in 1977

  1. #1Michael67,587
  2. #2Jason55,631
  3. #3Christopher46,721
  4. #4David40,515
  5. #5James40,040
  6. #6Robert34,214
  7. #7John34,195
  8. #8Brian32,492
  9. #9Matthew31,965
  10. #10Joseph26,483
  11. #2,458Joy18
More about 1977

girls

1,533,146 girls got a published name in 1977; 1 in 730 of them was named Joy, which outranked 98.8% of the 11,329 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #133Angel2,136
  2. #134Yolanda2,122
  3. #135Cheryl2,121
  4. #136Joy2,100
  5. #137Carla2,097
  6. #138Deanna2,093
  7. #139Shawna2,082
Biggest movers since 1976
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,746Shawnte#2,486 → #740
  2. ↑ 1,077Jacklyn#2,060 → #983
  3. ↑ 775Talia#1,482 → #707
  4. ↑ 605Haley#1,047 → #442
  5. ↑ 576Raven#1,154 → #578
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,033Liberty#543 → #1,576
  2. ↓ 464Luciana#545 → #1,009
  3. ↓ 441Danyel#999 → #1,440
  4. ↓ 428Chaka#897 → #1,325
  5. ↓ 322Catina#861 → #1,183

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

boys

1,643,220 boys got a published name in 1977; 1 in 91,290 of them was named Joy, which outranked 64.2% of the 6,861 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #2,361Wendel19
  2. #2,361West19
  3. #2,361Yves19
  4. #2,458Joy18
  5. #2,458Abayomi18
  6. #2,458Americo18
  7. #2,458Ankur18
  8. #2,556Ace17
  9. #2,556Adolphus17
  10. #2,556Aidan17

Tied with 97 names at #2,458; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1976
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,102Lavar#5,587 → #485
  2. ↑ 4,753Kinte#5,587 → #834
  3. ↑ 969Jedidiah#1,873 → #904
  4. ↑ 811Conor#1,748 → #937
  5. ↑ 704Amin#1,608 → #904
Fallers
  1. ↓ 427Jerimy#963 → #1,390
  2. ↓ 322Demetrios#990 → #1,312
  3. ↓ 246Nakia#790 → #1,036
  4. ↓ 244Baron#977 → #1,221
  5. ↓ 235Hakim#878 → #1,113

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

See the top 100 for 1977 →