Names That Mean Joy

  1. Lowen
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Could Lowen be the next Owen, Rowen, and Cohen? This Cornish name certainly has the right sounds to be an American hit, and is rising dramatically for both boys and girls.
  2. Joy
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Joy is from an older generation of word names, which also included Merry, Bliss, and Glory -- all of which exert a certain amount of personality pressure on a child. However, Joy, like Grace, Hope, and Rose, has crossed more into name-territory than other word choices, which lightens some of that pressure.
  3. Lowen
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Though it still swims out of sight below the Top 1000, Lowen jumped more than a thousand places in rank for girls between 2022 and 2023, a mark of a name destined for far greater popularity. Nearly a hundred baby girls were named Lowen in the US last year.
  4. Kailea
    • Origin:

      English, Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "pure; sea of joy"
    • Description:

      In English, Kailea is an unusual variant spelling of Kayley or Kaylee. In Hawaiian, Kaileʻa means "sea of joy".

      Kailea is one of
  5. Lowenna
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Lowena is the Cornish word for "joy". As a given name, it is most commonly spelt as in this entry - Lowenna. Lowen is a lovely unisex option which is closely related: it means "joyful" or "glad".
  6. Gioia
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Prettier than Joy and just beginning to be used here.
  7. Saran
    • Origin:

      Hindi, Sanskrit, Jula, Thai, Korean, Mongolian
    • Meaning:

      "refuge, sanctuary; joy; supporting; love, affection; moon"
    • Description:

      A multicultural choice, used across India, Korea, Thailand, West Africa, and Mongolia, Saran is a solid sounding name with a variety of good meanings.
  8. Bayo
    • Origin:

      African, Nigerian, Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "the crown meets joy"
    • Description:

      Short form of Adebayo
  9. Chara
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Chara is the name of a star in a constellation that represents hunting dogs, recently named as one of the most likely to host extraterrestrial life. Also, Chara is a variation of both Sarah and Charlotte.
  10. Charmian
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      This name was used by Shakespeare (who got it from Plutarch) in Antony and Cleopatra for one of the attendants of the Egyptian queen. An interesting possibility, it is heard occasionally in the UK, even less frequently in the US.
  11. Ayo
    • Origin:

      Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      This charming West African mini name fits in with the other similarly short names that are all the rage right now. Actress Ayo Edebiri is the star of TV's The Bear.
  12. Delight
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      " pure joy or immense satisfaction"
    • Description:

      An ultra-positive word name, notably the middle of musician Quincy Jones.
  13. Euphoria
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a feeling of intense excitement or joy"
    • Description:

      A pretty and modern word name for a daughter, expressing great happiness.
  14. Rani
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "my song, my joy"
    • Description:

      Too bad everyone in this country will tend to hear Ronnie.
  15. Alize
    • Origin:

      Variation of Aleeza or Alizee, Hebrew or French
    • Meaning:

      "joy or wind"
    • Description:

      Alize feels like a blend of Alice and Eliza but it's not related to either of those names, rather to the more unusual (in the US, at least) Aleeza, a Hebrew name meaning joy, or Alizee, a French name meaning wind, or the related Alizeh, a Persian name that also means wind. The final e can take an accent, which might elucidate pronunciation, but English speakers are sure to be confused.
  16. Tayo
    • Origin:

      Yoruba, African
    • Meaning:

      "worth joy"
    • Description:

      Tayo, also written as Táyò in Yoruba, is a name that sounds as joyful as its meaning.
  17. Gila
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "joy of the Lord"
    • Description:

      Gila and its variants have joyous meanings in Hebrew, but other kids might connect them to the monster.
  18. Dayo
    • Origin:

      Yoruba
    • Meaning:

      "joy arrives"
    • Description:

      A joyful Yoruba name which would be perfect for a long-awaited baby.
  19. Geela
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "joy"
    • Description:

      Gay, nearly giddy, gee-whiz feel; also too reminscent of a gila monster.
  20. Elza
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is my joy"
    • Description:

      Intriguing twist on several familiar names, though many people will mistake this for Elsa, Eliza, and so on.

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