Joy
Girl name · #420 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Joy? In official American birth records, Joy has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 747 baby girls were named Joy, placing it at #420 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #430, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,410 girls born in 2025 was named Joy.
The 140-year story
Joy first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 9 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 2,929 girls were named Joy — good for #143 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Joy per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Joy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Joy in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Joy is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Joy is most common
Geography matters for names, and Joy is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Joy is most common in NV (1.1 per 1,000), OK (0.9 per 1,000), MD (0.9 per 1,000), MA (0.8 per 1,000), AL (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Joy is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Joy
Statistically, parents drawn to Joy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anne, Carmen, Jana, Julie, and Amy.
AnneCarmenJanaJulieAmyReginaDarcyMyra
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Joy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 747 | #419 |
| 2024 | 707 | #440 |
| 2023 | 683 | #450 |
| 2022 | 688 | #461 |
| 2021 | 779 | #407 |
| 2020 | 788 | #395 |
| 2019 | 918 | #343 |
| 2018 | 902 | #353 |
| 2017 | 968 | #335 |
| 2016 | 954 | #352 |
| 2015 | 734 | #430 |
| 2014 | 699 | #457 |
| 2013 | 653 | #470 |
| 2012 | 622 | #495 |
| 2011 | 585 | #502 |
| 2010 | 632 | #477 |
| 2009 | 587 | #516 |
| 2008 | 575 | #535 |
| 2007 | 604 | #520 |
| 2006 | 608 | #501 |
| 2005 | 584 | #510 |
| 2004 | 615 | #479 |
| 2003 | 583 | #494 |
| 2002 | 590 | #476 |
| 2001 | 580 | #480 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Joy?
In official American birth records, the name Joy first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 9 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Joy a popular girl name?
Joy ranked #420 among girls in 2025 with 747 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #430.
When was the name Joy most popular?
Joy peaked in 1957, when 2,929 American girls received the name (ranked #143 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Joy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,410 newborn American girls was named Joy. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.