joy

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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Joy

Joy is a girl’s name derived from the Latin ‘gaudia,’ which later led to the Middle English and Old French word ‘joie.’ It means ‘happiness,’ ‘great pleasure,’ ‘ delight,’ ‘jubilation,’ and ‘rejoicing.’ It could also be of Spanish origin, meaning ‘beautiful jewel.’ In India, Joy is used as a boy’s name.

Joy is one of the happy names, along with Merry, Delight, and Bliss, popular in the Middle ages. The name was popular with the Puritans in the 17th century when it was associated with religion and happiness in God’s company. In the 19th century, it was also used more commonly among the other classes. Joy also found popularity in the era with the revival of other high-virtue names, such as Constance, Faith, Grace, and Hope.

The name is more popular because of its easy spelling and straightforward pronunciation. It is a one-syllable word that is easy to pronounce and write. Since it is such a short name, it does not require a nickname. However, you can use Jo, Joie, Joey, Joe, and Joya as nicknames for Joy. The most common variation of Joy is Joyce.

The name has made quite a few appearances in pop culture. Joy Mercer is a character on the mystery Nickelodeon TV showHouse of Anubis. Joy Keenan is the birth name of Dr. Temperance Brennan, the main character in the famous TV seriesBones. Joy Birch is a character in the 2013 moviePrisoners. Joy Newsome is the main character in Emma Donoghue’s bookRoom. Later, the book was made into a movie starring Brie Larson as Joy. Joy McNally is the name of a character in the 2008 romantic comedyWhat Happens in Vegas. Joy is a character in theWayside Schoolseries by Louis Sachar. Nurse Joy is a character in thePokemon video game. Joy is also the main character in the Disney movieInside Out. Finally, Joy Wang is a character in the 2022 movieEverything Everywhere All at Once.

Besides these fictional appearances,Joyis the name of a 2015 movie starring Jennifer Lawrence as Joy Mangano, the American inventor and entrepreneur.

Joy

heart image
it means to rejoice. Such people have a fun side and yearn for their innermost desires. They are hardworking and can do almost anything to achieve their goals.
Girl
Hindu
Nigerian, United States
j..ja..ja..Ja..Jaa..Jac..

How To Pronounce Joy?

Pronounced asjoi
English

Famous People With The Name Joy

  • NameProfession
  • Joy BeharAmerican comedian, TV host, and actress, known for hosting The Joy Behar Show and Late Night Joy
  • Joy WilliamsAmerican singer and songwriter, released five solo albums and won four Grammy Awards
  • Joy DavidmanAmerican poet and writer, known as a child prodigy and won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Competition (1938)
  • Joy BryantAmerican actress, businesswoman, and fashion model, appeared in ads for well-known fashion brands and worked in movies like Spider-Man 2
  • Joy LaurenAmerican actress and director known for playing Danielle Van de Kamp in Desperate Housewives

Joy On The Popularity Chart

According to the Social Security Administration graphs below, we can see how the name has fared over the last few years in the US. So let us have a look at them.

Popularity Over Time

In 1980, 1,717 babies per million were given the name Joy. However, in the following years, its popularity declined. In the last decade, the name has been becoming popular again. In 2016, 952 babies per million had this name, and in 2021, 773 babies per million were named Joy. Check the graph for a better understanding.

Source:Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

The rank of this name has shown a reasonably steady graph. In 1980, the name ranked 165. In the following years, it lost its place in the top 200 and entered the top 500. In 2008, the name ranked 536. Later, its position improved. In 2021, the rank was 407. Refer to the graph for more insights.

Source:Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Joy

Joy is a beautiful name with a gentle sound and easy spelling. Here are some other names that have a similar sound.

Popular Sibling Names For Joy

Other Popular Names Beginning With J

Names With Similar Meaning As Joy

If you liked the meaning of the name Joy, you might want to look at some names with similar meaning.

Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology

name-numerology-for-joy-girl

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version

How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

joy

In Sign Language

joy

In Braille Alphabet

joy

In Morse Code

joy

Name Numerology For Joy

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Joy?

The name Joy means it means to rejoice. such people have a fun side and yearn for their innermost desires. they are hardworking and can do almost anything to achieve their goals.

2. What is the origin of the name Joy?

Joy has a Nigerian and United States origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Joy?

Joy is pronounced as joi.

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