JOY  

Gender: F
Origin: Word name

Popularity in 2008: #548

From an older generation of word names, which also included Merry, Bliss, and Glory -- all of which exert personality pressure on a child. One interesting name that means the same thing: Chara.

Variations:
Joie, Jioya, Joya, Joice, Joi, Gioia, Gioya, Jioia, Joia, Joyann, Joye

Joy is being discussed in our message boards:

• Family Of 15--Lots of Multiples Big Family Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Initial Game
• Thirteen Kids (and counting..?)!
• Everyone Loves A Baby Name Game!
• Cheaper By the Dozen

Read Nameberry blog posts about Joy:

• THE LOST BOYS’ NAMES OF 1880
• TWIN NAMES: Individual Choices, Same Meaning
• MINI-NAMES
• CHRISTMAS NAMES BEYOND NICHOLAS AND NOEL
• RELIEF PACKAGE FOR BABY NAMERS