ChristianNames.org Saved

Name at a glance

Joy

Joy is an English virtue name meaning gladness, delight, or rejoicing.

Ranked #419 in US baby names in 2025, peaked at #109 in 1974, declining over the past 5 years.

Joy is a Christian virtue name because biblical joy is more than a passing mood; it is gladness rooted in God's goodness, promise, salvation, and presence.

Browse names
OriginEnglish
GenderGirl
FeelVirtue
PronunciationJOY

Is Joy biblical?

As a word, not a person

Biblical status Biblical word or concept

Joy appears in Scripture as a word and theme rather than a personal name, for example 'the joy of the LORD is your strength' in Nehemiah 8:10 and throughout the Psalms.

Is Joy a Christian name?

Yes, as a virtue name

Christian tradition Virtue or theological name

Joy is a Christian virtue name expressing gladness rooted in the gospel, grouped with Grace, Faith, and Hope.

Plain answer

Joy is not a biblical personal name but a scriptural concept of gladness, and it is used as a Christian virtue name alongside Grace, Faith, and Hope.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Joy

Joy comes directly from the English word joy. In Christian language, joy is connected with worship, salvation, the Holy Spirit, endurance, and hope rather than only cheerful temperament.

Virtue name

Joy as Christian gladness

Joy is one of the clearest virtue names because the meaning is immediately understandable. In Christian use, however, joy is deeper than happiness.

The New Testament often connects joy with the gospel, fellowship, endurance, and the work of God. That makes the name small in sound but large in meaning.

Naming use

Brief, bright, and devotional

Joy works easily as a first name or middle name. It is short, warm, and clear, which makes it different from longer saints names or biblical character names.

For families who like Grace, Faith, and Hope, Joy belongs naturally in the same virtue-name family.

Sound

How to pronounce Joy

Phonetic
JOY
IPA
/dʒɔɪ/

1 syllable · stress: JOY · ends in a vowel

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Joye
  • Joya
  • Gioia

Short forms and nicknames

  • Joi
  • Joybell

Languages

Joy in other languages

Latin
GaudiumGaudium is the Latin abstract noun. Joy as a personal name in Romance languages is rare; the Italian Gioia is the most attested form.
Italian
Gioia
Spanish
Alegría

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Joy has been used in English-speaking Christian families because joy is a major biblical and theological theme. It appears in hymns, prayers, Scripture, and devotional language.

Bearers

Notable people named Joy

  • historical

    Joy AdamsonAustrian-British naturalist and conservationist, author of Born Free, 1910 to 1980

  • historical

    Joy DavidmanAmerican poet and writer, wife of C. S. Lewis, 1915 to 1960

  • modern

    Joy HarjoAmerican Poet Laureate of the United States from 2019 to 2022, born 1951

  • modern

    Joy BeharAmerican comedian and longtime co-host of The View, born 1942

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Joy became especially familiar in English as a virtue and word name. It remains simple, direct, and easy to pair with longer family names.

Recent US use

Joy in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#419
Peak rank
#109 in 1974
Recent trend
declining over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
141 (since 1885)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

For families

For families looking at Joy

For a Christian family, Joy offers a brief name with a clear spiritual meaning. It can feel celebratory without being shallow.

Common questions

What does Joy mean?

Joy means gladness, delight, or rejoicing.

Is Joy a biblical name?

Joy is not a biblical person name, but joy is a major biblical theme.

Is Joy a Christian name?

Yes. Joy is a classic Christian virtue name.

Sources

Sources for Joy

  • Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University PressSupports: English word/virtue name; meaning gladness, delight, or rejoicing.
  • The Book of Nehemiah, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: scriptural concept of joy; 'the joy of the LORD is your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10).

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

GraceBoth are Christian virtue names directly carrying their meaning; Joy and Grace are often paired in sibling or middle-name sets.FaithAnother virtue name; Joy joins Faith, Hope, Love as a small group of direct devotional names in modern Christian use.HopeBoth are forward-looking virtue names; Joy expresses the present experience, Hope the trust toward what is coming.HannahHannah's song in 1 Samuel 2 is one of the great biblical expressions of joy after long sorrow; the two names share a meaning family.