The story behind Joy
From the noun joy, first used by Puritans in the 17th century.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Joy.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /d͡ʒɔɪ/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈd͡ʒoj/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈd͡ʒoɪ̯]
- Tagalog: /ˈdjoj/
- Tagalog: [ˈd̪joɪ̯]
Popularity
Joy ranked #419 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Joy
Sky
From sky. As a surname, a translation of German Himmel and an anglicization of Ashkenazic surnames ending in -sky.
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Troy
From Latin Troia, from Ancient Greek Τροία (Troía). Borrowed from English Troy.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jay
Borrowed from Hindi जय (jay, literally “victory”). Borrowed from Sanskrit जय (jaya, “victory”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gay
Borrowed from English Gay.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jade
From the precious stone jade; taken into general use in the 1970s.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jane
Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Joy
Alan
From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aria
As a 21st century English name from TV and fantasy fiction, explained as "a musical aria". Similar sounding names exist in many languages, e.g. Ariah and Arie from Hebrew, Arya…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Joy
Alan
From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection