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
#109
1974 · 2,757 births
Debut · girls
1885
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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201966peak #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 1966

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedAKMaine: #137 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 643 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #180 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 935 girlsNHWashington: #210 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 972 girlsWAIdaho: #145 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 544 girlsIDMontana: #126 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 453 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #146 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 578 girlsNDMinnesota: #125 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 576 girlsMNIllinois: #154 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 752 girlsILWisconsin: #141 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 684 girlsWIMichigan: #139 for girls · 110 births · 1 in 668 girlsMINew York: #177 for girls · 162 births · 1 in 900 girlsNYMassachusetts: #214 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,453 girlsMARhode Island: #119 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 581 girlsRIOregon: #142 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 576 girlsORNevada: #134 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 486 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #150 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 591 girlsSDIowa: #139 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 620 girlsIAIndiana: #187 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 1,001 girlsINOhio: #152 for girls · 111 births · 1 in 767 girlsOHPennsylvania: #141 for girls · 128 births · 1 in 699 girlsPANew Jersey: #178 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 905 girlsNJConnecticut: #169 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 882 girlsCTCalifornia: #173 for girls · 186 births · 1 in 827 girlsCAUtah: #206 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 882 girlsUTColorado: #158 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 659 girlsCONebraska: #179 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 882 girlsNEMissouri: #139 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 652 girlsMOKentucky: #142 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 709 girlsKYWest Virginia: #144 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 664 girlsWVVirginia: #153 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 729 girlsVAMaryland: #141 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 684 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Joy, so not publishedDEArizona: #184 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 753 girlsAZNew Mexico: #233 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 966 girlsNMKansas: #198 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 895 girlsKSArkansas: #189 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 871 girlsARTennessee: #157 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 778 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #109 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 484 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #149 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 664 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #169 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 734 girlsDCOklahoma: #155 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 680 girlsOKLouisiana: #167 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 745 girlsLAMississippi: #159 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 722 girlsMSAlabama: #163 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 727 girlsALGeorgia: #122 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 530 girlsGAHawaii: #66 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 258 girlsHITexas: #214 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 1,044 girlsTXFlorida: #112 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 493 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#66 · 1 in 258
  2. North Carolina#109 · 1 in 484
  3. Florida#112 · 1 in 493
  4. Rhode Island#119 · 1 in 581
  5. Georgia#122 · 1 in 530

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#66191 in 258
North Carolina#109821 in 484
Florida#112871 in 493
Rhode Island#119121 in 581
Georgia#122731 in 530
Minnesota#125511 in 576
Montana#126101 in 453
Nevada#13461 in 486
Maine#137121 in 643
Iowa#139341 in 620
Michigan#1391101 in 668
Missouri#139531 in 652
Maryland#141401 in 684
Pennsylvania#1411281 in 699
Wisconsin#141521 in 684
Kentucky#142351 in 709
Oregon#142231 in 576
West Virginia#144191 in 664
Idaho#14581 in 544
North Dakota#14681 in 578
South Carolina#149321 in 664
South Dakota#15081 in 591
Ohio#1521111 in 767
Virginia#153471 in 729
Illinois#1541171 in 752
Oklahoma#155231 in 680
Tennessee#157391 in 778
Colorado#158231 in 659
Mississippi#159271 in 722
Alabama#163381 in 727
Louisiana#167431 in 745
Connecticut#169251 in 882
District of Columbia#169151 in 734
California#1731861 in 827
New York#1771621 in 900
New Jersey#178571 in 905
Nebraska#179121 in 882
New Hampshire#18051 in 935
Arizona#184171 in 753
Indiana#187421 in 1,001
Arkansas#189161 in 871
Kansas#198161 in 895
Utah#206101 in 882
Washington#210221 in 972
Massachusetts#214311 in 1,453
Texas#214881 in 1,044
New Mexico#23391 in 966
Alaska———
Delaware———
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 1966

girls
#165
2,090 births · 1 in 810 girls
boys
#1,814
18 births · 1 in 99,081 boys

Top girls' names in 1966

  1. #1Lisa56,918
  2. #2Kimberly32,232
  3. #3Mary28,890
  4. #4Michelle27,159
  5. #5Karen25,450
  6. #6Susan23,776
  7. #7Patricia20,112
  8. #8Tammy18,621
  9. #9Angela18,532
  10. #10Jennifer18,215
  11. #165Joy2,090

Top boys' names in 1966

  1. #1Michael79,985
  2. #2David66,408
  3. #3James65,163
  4. #4John65,016
  5. #5Robert59,317
  6. #6William38,237
  7. #7Mark34,801
  8. #8Richard34,457
  9. #9Jeffrey30,200
  10. #10Thomas29,003
  11. #1,814Joy18
More about 1966

girls

1,692,177 girls got a published name in 1966; 1 in 810 of them was named Joy, which outranked 97.8% of the 7,624 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. #162Frances2,126
  2. #163Carmen2,122
  3. #164Joann2,117
  4. #165Joy2,090
  5. #166Elaine2,059
  6. #166Sara2,059
  7. #168Eileen2,039
Biggest movers since 1965
Risers
  1. ↑ 6,121Tabatha#6,539 → #418
  2. ↑ 1,469Tabitha#1,993 → #524
  3. ↑ 1,325Joell#2,247 → #922
  4. ↑ 1,047Tatia#1,715 → #668
  5. ↑ 969Nichole#1,829 → #860
Fallers
  1. ↓ 398Barb#815 → #1,213
  2. ↓ 310Jewell#952 → #1,262
  3. ↓ 288Roxie#944 → #1,232
  4. ↓ 284Aretha#818 → #1,102
  5. ↓ 280Kecia#392 → #672

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

boys

1,783,461 boys got a published name in 1966; 1 in 99,081 of them was named Joy, which outranked 60.0% of the 4,540 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Joy
  1. #1,757Vernie19
  2. #1,757Victoria19
  3. #1,757Wray19
  4. #1,814Joy18
  5. #1,814Ace18
  6. #1,814Acie18
  7. #1,814Amir18
  8. #1,891Benjie17
  9. #1,891Bernabe17
  10. #1,891Beth17

Tied with 76 names at #1,814; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1965
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,207Jarrod#1,720 → #513
  2. ↑ 893Heath#1,254 → #361
  3. ↑ 467Illya#1,294 → #827
  4. ↑ 419Jarrett#1,294 → #875
  5. ↑ 399Reynold#1,360 → #961
Fallers
  1. ↓ 464Quint#986 → #1,450
  2. ↓ 303Dario#934 → #1,237
  3. ↓ 299Darran#1,000 → #1,299
  4. ↓ 281Artie#897 → #1,178
  5. ↓ 268Daryn#716 → #984

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

See the top 100 for 1966 →