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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201943peak #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 1943

  • 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: #91 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 422 girlsWAIdaho: #104 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 411 girlsIDMontana: #112 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 474 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #181 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,042 girlsNDMinnesota: #113 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 786 girlsMNIllinois: #121 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 723 girlsILWisconsin: #119 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 831 girlsWIMichigan: #143 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 895 girlsMINew York: #173 for girls · 105 births · 1 in 1,090 girlsNYMassachusetts: #184 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,618 girlsMARhode Island: #173 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,227 girlsRIOregon: #118 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 583 girlsORNevada: #58 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 176 girlsNVWyoming: #83 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 318 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #100 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 453 girlsSDIowa: #189 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,481 girlsIAIndiana: #117 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 739 girlsINOhio: #112 for girls · 102 births · 1 in 637 girlsOHPennsylvania: #156 for girls · 92 births · 1 in 980 girlsPANew Jersey: #133 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 709 girlsNJConnecticut: #154 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,022 girlsCTCalifornia: #147 for girls · 102 births · 1 in 764 girlsCAUtah: #107 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 460 girlsUTColorado: #165 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 871 girlsCONebraska: #156 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,017 girlsNEMissouri: #118 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 715 girlsMOKentucky: #226 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,524 girlsKYWest Virginia: #129 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 721 girlsWVVirginia: #202 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,213 girlsVAMaryland: #203 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,347 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: #191 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 812 girlsAZNew Mexico: #226 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,024 girlsNMKansas: #107 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 589 girlsKSArkansas: #153 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 693 girlsARTennessee: #112 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 544 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #206 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,266 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #296 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,267 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #184 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,071 girlsDCOklahoma: #88 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 445 girlsOKLouisiana: #124 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 500 girlsLAMississippi: #261 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,568 girlsMSAlabama: #218 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,214 girlsALGeorgia: #192 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,015 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedHITexas: #112 for girls · 142 births · 1 in 524 girlsTXFlorida: #144 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 613 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Nevada#58 · 1 in 176
  2. Wyoming#83 · 1 in 318
  3. Oklahoma#88 · 1 in 445
  4. Washington#91 · 1 in 422
  5. South Dakota#100 · 1 in 453

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nevada#5851 in 176
Wyoming#8361 in 318
Oklahoma#88481 in 445
Washington#91441 in 422
South Dakota#100111 in 453
Idaho#104111 in 411
Kansas#107251 in 589
Utah#107151 in 460
Montana#11291 in 474
Ohio#1121021 in 637
Tennessee#112591 in 544
Texas#1121421 in 524
Minnesota#113321 in 786
Indiana#117441 in 739
Missouri#118461 in 715
Oregon#118181 in 583
Wisconsin#119341 in 831
Illinois#121971 in 723
Louisiana#124551 in 500
West Virginia#129271 in 721
New Jersey#133511 in 709
Michigan#143631 in 895
Florida#144341 in 613
California#1471021 in 764
Arkansas#153301 in 693
Connecticut#154161 in 1,022
Nebraska#156101 in 1,017
Pennsylvania#156921 in 980
Colorado#165121 in 871
New York#1731051 in 1,090
Rhode Island#17351 in 1,227
North Dakota#18151 in 1,042
District of Columbia#18491 in 1,071
Massachusetts#184241 in 1,618
Iowa#189141 in 1,481
Arizona#19181 in 812
Georgia#192361 in 1,015
Virginia#202251 in 1,213
Maryland#203141 in 1,347
North Carolina#206341 in 1,266
Alabama#218281 in 1,214
Kentucky#226191 in 1,524
New Mexico#22661 in 1,024
Mississippi#261161 in 1,568
South Carolina#296111 in 2,267
Alaska
Delaware
Hawaii
Maine
New Hampshire
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 1943

girls
#157
1,610 births · 1 in 867 girls
boys
#1,308
28 births · 1 in 50,975 boys

Top girls' names in 1943

  1. #1Mary66,174
  2. #2Barbara43,432
  3. #3Patricia39,620
  4. #4Linda38,439
  5. #5Carol31,686
  6. #6Sandra25,990
  7. #7Judith25,214
  8. #8Sharon24,712
  9. #9Nancy23,988
  10. #10Betty21,596
  11. #157Joy1,610

Top boys' names in 1943

  1. #1James80,278
  2. #2Robert74,892
  3. #3John68,929
  4. #4William55,904
  5. #5Richard46,339
  6. #6David37,240
  7. #7Charles36,632
  8. #8Thomas32,874
  9. #9Ronald29,239
  10. #10Michael24,745
  11. #1,308Joy28
More about 1943

girls

1,395,293 girls got a published name in 1943; 1 in 867 of them was named Joy, which outranked 97.1% of the 5,367 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #154Rosa1,681
  2. #155Ella1,664
  3. #156Julie1,624
  4. #157Joy1,610
  5. #158Lillie1,594
  6. #159Claudia1,584
  7. #160Deanna1,573
Biggest movers since 1942
Risers
  1. 878Tana#1,559#681
  2. 754Rozanne#1,706#952
  3. 722Cheryle#1,592#870
  4. 596Tena#1,592#996
  5. 525Alexis#1,349#824
Fallers
  1. 594Florida#997#1,591
  2. 467Jerilynn#581#1,048
  3. 364Lorelei#864#1,228
  4. 308Kaaren#536#844
  5. 305Erna#864#1,169

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

boys

1,427,297 boys got a published name in 1943; 1 in 50,975 of them was named Joy, which outranked 67.6% of the 4,040 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #1,280Teodoro29
  2. #1,280Theodis29
  3. #1,280Thurston29
  4. #1,308Joy28
  5. #1,308Archibald28
  6. #1,308Audrey28
  7. #1,308Braxton28
  8. #1,343Arlington27
  9. #1,343Arnoldo27
  10. #1,343Aubry27

Tied with 34 names at #1,308; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1942
Risers
  1. 514Derek#1,228#714
  2. 465Armond#1,421#956
  3. 368Les#1,214#846
  4. 347Aron#1,244#897
  5. 321Edsel#1,167#846
Fallers
  1. 500Humberto#780#1,280
  2. 352Chauncey#928#1,280
  3. 352Clearence#991#1,343
  4. 344Macarthur#512#856
  5. 325Reyes#933#1,258

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

See the top 100 for 1943