Joy

Updated: October 4, 2023 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Joy is an elegant and jubilant baby name for girls. Unmatched in simplicity and uplifting in connotation, this name brings gladness to any social context. The name also plays a lively role in popular culture. Joy is the protagonist of the animated film Inside Out, Joy Ruth Keenan is the main character in the television series Bones, and Joy Farrah Turner is a central character in the television show My Name is Earl. Keep reading to learn more about this baby name.

Meaning of the Name Joy

Joy is the English synonym for “happiness.” The name entered the English language via the Norman French word joie. This word ultimately derived from the Latin expression gaudia (meaning “gladness” or “delight”). Although recorded as a given name since the Middle Ages, the Puritans of New England popularized the name beginning in the 19th century.

Due to Puritan culture, Joy became a common virtue name (along with related attribute names such as Hope, Constance, Faith, Patience, Felicity, and Amity). Joy originated from the Latin word gaudia (meaning “happiness,” “gladness,” or “delight”). Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire, and all Romance languages descend from this script.

As a result, this foundational philosophy of joy appears throughout Romance languages and culture. Known as the “joy of life” (or joie de vivre in French and gioia di vivere in Italian), this philosophy entails using all five senses to live every day to the fullest. Classical symbols of joy include the sunflower and the uninhibited smile.

Nicknames for Joy

The name Joy evokes feelings of elation and exuberance. Since Joy is such a short name, it may be a little difficult to come up with a nickname based strictly off the name. However, feel free to come up with something fun and unique to the Joy in your life. Until then, we've come up with a list to help get you inspired:

Jo
Jojo
Jay
Koi

Joy Name Details

Style: Puritan

Gender: Joy is traditionally considered to be a girls name.

Pronunciation: JOI

Syllables: One

Alternative Spelling for Joy

Joye
Joi
Joie
Joia
Joya
Gioia

Joy Name Popularity

According to the Social Security Administration index, Joy was the 396th most popular baby name for girls in 2020. Joy has ranked among the top 500 baby girl names since 2012.