Joyce
Girl name · #1072 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Joyce? In official American birth records, Joyce has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 226 baby girls were named Joyce, placing it at #1072 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #844, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,965 girls born in 2025 was named Joyce.
The 143-year story
Joyce first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1942, when 16,728 girls were named Joyce — good for #13 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 Joyce per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Joyce against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Joyce in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Joyce is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Joyce will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Joyce is most common
Geography matters for names, and Joyce is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Joyce is most common in NJ (0.4 per 1,000), GA (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Joyce is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Joyce
Statistically, parents drawn to Joyce tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Janice, Janie, Judith, Julie, and Joan.
JaniceJanieJudithJulieJoanJoanneNancySally
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Joyce | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 226 | #1071 |
| 2024 | 241 | #1041 |
| 2023 | 237 | #1055 |
| 2022 | 269 | #984 |
| 2021 | 274 | #954 |
| 2020 | 261 | #976 |
| 2019 | 287 | #922 |
| 2018 | 284 | #939 |
| 2017 | 325 | #836 |
| 2016 | 385 | #738 |
| 2015 | 332 | #844 |
| 2014 | 353 | #794 |
| 2013 | 328 | #820 |
| 2012 | 298 | #887 |
| 2011 | 264 | #970 |
| 2010 | 303 | #877 |
| 2009 | 287 | #930 |
| 2008 | 318 | #875 |
| 2007 | 342 | #838 |
| 2006 | 325 | #830 |
| 2005 | 324 | #799 |
| 2004 | 345 | #758 |
| 2003 | 345 | #738 |
| 2002 | 358 | #700 |
| 2001 | 370 | #675 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Joyce?
In official American birth records, the name Joyce first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Joyce a popular girl name?
Joyce ranked #1072 among girls in 2025 with 226 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #844.
When was the name Joyce most popular?
Joyce peaked in 1942, when 16,728 American girls received the name (ranked #13 that year). Since 1942 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Joyce?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,965 newborn American girls was named Joyce. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.