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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201998peak #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 1998

  • 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: #383 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,949 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: #481 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,158 girlsMNIllinois: #430 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 2,515 girlsILWisconsin: #529 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,602 girlsWIMichigan: #431 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 2,711 girlsMINew York: #538 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 3,357 girlsNYMassachusetts: #472 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,190 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedORNevada: 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: #391 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,344 girlsIAIndiana: #664 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,726 girlsINOhio: #466 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 3,081 girlsOHPennsylvania: #371 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,332 girlsPANew Jersey: #303 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,728 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #587 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 3,623 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedNEMissouri: #316 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,856 girlsMOKentucky: #556 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,078 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWVVirginia: #267 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,356 girlsVAMaryland: #340 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,842 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: #581 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,246 girlsAZNew Mexico: #389 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,693 girlsNMKansas: #319 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,619 girlsKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedARTennessee: #367 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,180 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #373 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 2,105 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #231 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,049 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #223 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 703 girlsDCOklahoma: #460 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,415 girlsOKLouisiana: #300 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,457 girlsLAMississippi: #330 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,523 girlsMSAlabama: #374 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,085 girlsALGeorgia: #350 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,936 girlsGAHawaii: #71 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 253 girlsHITexas: #545 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 3,336 girlsTXFlorida: #436 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 2,653 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#71 · 1 in 253
  2. District of Columbia#223 · 1 in 703
  3. South Carolina#231 · 1 in 1,049
  4. Virginia#267 · 1 in 1,356
  5. Louisiana#300 · 1 in 1,457

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#71151 in 253
District of Columbia#22351 in 703
South Carolina#231161 in 1,049
Virginia#267251 in 1,356
Louisiana#300151 in 1,457
New Jersey#303241 in 1,728
Missouri#316161 in 1,856
Kansas#31981 in 1,619
Mississippi#33081 in 1,523
Maryland#340131 in 1,842
Georgia#350231 in 1,936
Tennessee#367141 in 2,180
Pennsylvania#371251 in 2,332
North Carolina#373201 in 2,105
Alabama#374101 in 2,085
Washington#383151 in 1,949
New Mexico#38951 in 1,693
Iowa#39161 in 2,344
Illinois#430281 in 2,515
Michigan#431191 in 2,711
Florida#436281 in 2,653
Oklahoma#46071 in 2,415
Ohio#466201 in 3,081
Massachusetts#472101 in 3,190
Minnesota#48181 in 3,158
Wisconsin#52971 in 3,602
New York#538301 in 3,357
Texas#545431 in 3,336
Kentucky#55651 in 4,078
Arizona#58191 in 3,246
California#587611 in 3,623
Indiana#66471 in 4,726
Alaska———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Maine———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
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 1998

girls
#442
583 births · 1 in 3,031 girls
boys
#9,631
5 births · 1 in 382,273 boys

Top girls' names in 1998

  1. #1Emily26,188
  2. #2Hannah21,376
  3. #3Samantha20,195
  4. #4Sarah19,898
  5. #5Ashley19,875
  6. #6Alexis19,778
  7. #7Taylor18,576
  8. #8Jessica18,239
  9. #9Madison17,787
  10. #10Elizabeth15,193
  11. #442Joy583

Top boys' names in 1998

  1. #1Michael36,618
  2. #2Jacob36,031
  3. #3Matthew31,146
  4. #4Joshua28,095
  5. #5Christopher27,007
  6. #6Nicholas26,632
  7. #7Brandon23,832
  8. #8Tyler23,712
  9. #9Andrew23,664
  10. #10Austin23,478
  11. #9,631Joy5
More about 1998

girls

1,766,949 girls got a published name in 1998; 1 in 3,031 of them was named Joy, which outranked 97.3% of the 16,601 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 11.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #438Yasmin597
  2. #440Adrienne589
  3. #441Kaylin586
  4. #442Joy583
  5. #443Kiera582
  6. #443Tania582
  7. #445Lorena581
Biggest movers since 1997
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,123Calista#2,820 → #697
  2. ↑ 1,165Ireland#1,983 → #818
  3. ↑ 1,158Abril#2,116 → #958
  4. ↑ 755Mya#993 → #238
  5. ↑ 619Ally#1,036 → #417
Fallers
  1. ↓ 586Yulissa#424 → #1,010
  2. ↓ 462Moesha#943 → #1,405
  3. ↓ 397Yulisa#985 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 376Tonya#905 → #1,281
  5. ↓ 347Xena#765 → #1,112

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

boys

1,911,366 boys got a published name in 1998; 1 in 382,273 of them was named Joy, which outranked 14.9% of the 11,311 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 14.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #8,479Zerik6
  2. #8,479Zhaire6
  3. #8,479Zymir6
  4. #9,631Joy5
  5. #9,631Aadil5
  6. #9,631Aaliyah5
  7. #9,631Aaronmichael5

Tied with 1,680 names at #9,631; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1997
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,736Tyrese#2,347 → #611
  2. ↑ 805Zion#1,499 → #694
  3. ↑ 785Mekhi#1,706 → #921
  4. ↑ 743Tyriq#1,519 → #776
  5. ↑ 741Tavian#1,599 → #858
Fallers
  1. ↓ 429Coty#918 → #1,347
  2. ↓ 367Anfernee#838 → #1,205
  3. ↓ 326Jessy#962 → #1,288
  4. ↓ 295Mickey#966 → #1,261
  5. ↓ 280Mikal#1,000 → #1,280

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

See the top 100 for 1998 →