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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201990peak #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 1990

  • 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: #270 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,545 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #322 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,328 girlsMNIllinois: #383 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 2,532 girlsILWisconsin: #405 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,933 girlsWIMichigan: #371 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 2,716 girlsMINew York: #372 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 2,260 girlsNYMassachusetts: #484 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,873 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedRIOregon: #446 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,797 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedSDIowa: #305 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,997 girlsIAIndiana: #406 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,931 girlsINOhio: #348 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 2,532 girlsOHPennsylvania: #300 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 2,074 girlsPANew Jersey: #321 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 2,085 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #535 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 3,595 girlsCAUtah: #460 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,710 girlsUTColorado: #470 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,967 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNEMissouri: #237 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,564 girlsMOKentucky: #300 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,124 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWVVirginia: #340 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,223 girlsVAMaryland: #232 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,418 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedARTennessee: #306 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,013 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #226 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,409 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #273 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,669 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #236 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,342 girlsOKLouisiana: #208 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,154 girlsLAMississippi: #281 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,531 girlsMSAlabama: #259 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,605 girlsALGeorgia: #336 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 2,246 girlsGAHawaii: #122 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 496 girlsHITexas: #435 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 2,752 girlsTXFlorida: #292 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 1,930 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#122 · 1 in 496
  2. Louisiana#208 · 1 in 1,154
  3. North Carolina#226 · 1 in 1,409
  4. Maryland#232 · 1 in 1,418
  5. Oklahoma#236 · 1 in 1,342

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#122111 in 496
Louisiana#208221 in 1,154
North Carolina#226291 in 1,409
Maryland#232201 in 1,418
Oklahoma#236131 in 1,342
Missouri#237211 in 1,564
Alabama#259141 in 1,605
Washington#270201 in 1,545
South Carolina#273121 in 1,669
Mississippi#28191 in 1,531
Florida#292411 in 1,930
Kentucky#300101 in 2,124
Pennsylvania#300351 in 2,074
Iowa#30581 in 1,997
Tennessee#306151 in 2,013
New Jersey#321231 in 2,085
Minnesota#322121 in 2,328
Georgia#336191 in 2,246
Virginia#340171 in 2,223
Ohio#348281 in 2,532
Michigan#371231 in 2,716
New York#372541 in 2,260
Illinois#383311 in 2,532
Wisconsin#405101 in 2,933
Indiana#406121 in 2,931
Texas#435501 in 2,752
Oregon#44661 in 2,797
Utah#46051 in 2,710
Colorado#47071 in 2,967
Massachusetts#484101 in 3,873
California#535731 in 3,595
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Kansas———
Maine———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
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 1990

girls
#375
697 births · 1 in 2,724 girls
boys
#3,467
17 births · 1 in 120,826 boys

Top girls' names in 1990

  1. #1Jessica46,486
  2. #2Ashley45,561
  3. #3Brittany36,536
  4. #4Amanda34,413
  5. #5Samantha25,868
  6. #6Sarah25,824
  7. #7Stephanie24,864
  8. #8Jennifer22,236
  9. #9Elizabeth20,750
  10. #10Lauren20,506
  11. #375Joy697

Top boys' names in 1990

  1. #1Michael65,321
  2. #2Christopher52,362
  3. #3Matthew44,826
  4. #4Joshua43,237
  5. #5Daniel33,830
  6. #6David33,748
  7. #7Andrew33,673
  8. #8James32,359
  9. #9Justin30,649
  10. #10Joseph30,137
  11. #3,467Joy17
More about 1990

girls

1,898,547 girls got a published name in 1990; 1 in 2,724 of them was named Joy, which outranked 97.5% of the 15,234 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #372Christa706
  2. #373Chasity704
  3. #374Johanna699
  4. #375Joy697
  5. #376Kristie696
  6. #376Rochelle696
  7. #378Katelynn695
Biggest movers since 1989
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,592Alannah#6,531 → #939
  2. ↑ 1,178Symone#1,998 → #820
  3. ↑ 869Shelbi#1,750 → #881
  4. ↑ 831Latifah#1,532 → #701
  5. ↑ 828Skyler#1,564 → #736
Fallers
  1. ↓ 2,554Elizabet#524 → #3,078
  2. ↓ 1,572Katherin#717 → #2,289
  3. ↓ 652Stephani#390 → #1,042
  4. ↓ 504Ashanti#893 → #1,397
  5. ↓ 416Audrianna#759 → #1,175

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

boys

2,054,038 boys got a published name in 1990; 1 in 120,826 of them was named Joy, which outranked 63.5% of the 9,493 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 19.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #3,309Zacheriah18
  2. #3,309Zamir18
  3. #3,309Zephaniah18
  4. #3,467Joy17
  5. #3,467Adriane17
  6. #3,467Ahren17
  7. #3,467Akira17
  8. #3,607Aamir16
  9. #3,607Abbas16
  10. #3,607Adham16

Tied with 139 names at #3,467; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1989
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,636Tevin#4,017 → #381
  2. ↑ 3,283Keenen#4,271 → #988
  3. ↑ 1,325Male#2,027 → #702
  4. ↑ 1,032Denzel#1,476 → #444
  5. ↑ 598Kevon#1,476 → #878
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,130Kiara#956 → #2,086
  2. ↓ 916Rachel#993 → #1,909
  3. ↓ 855Nicole#985 → #1,840
  4. ↓ 746Tiffany#956 → #1,702
  5. ↓ 681Sarah#819 → #1,500

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

See the top 100 for 1990 →