Joyce
Girl name · #1072 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
In 2025, 226 baby girls were named Joyce, placing it at #1072 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #844, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,965 girls born in 2025 was named Joyce.
The 143-year story
Joyce first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1942, when 16,728 girls were named Joyce — good for #13 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Joyce per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Joyce against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Joyce in class?
Joyce scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Joyce is most common
Geography matters for names, and Joyce is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Joyces were CA (34), TX (25), FL (18), NJ (15), NY (14). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Joyce
Statistically, parents drawn to Joyce tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Janice, Janie, Judith, Julie, and Joan.
JaniceJanieJudithJulieJoanJoanneNancySally
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Joyce | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 226 | #1071 |
| 2024 | 241 | #1041 |
| 2023 | 237 | #1055 |
| 2022 | 269 | #984 |
| 2021 | 274 | #954 |
| 2020 | 261 | #976 |
| 2019 | 287 | #922 |
| 2018 | 284 | #939 |
| 2017 | 325 | #836 |
| 2016 | 385 | #738 |
| 2015 | 332 | #844 |
| 2014 | 353 | #794 |
| 2013 | 328 | #820 |
| 2012 | 298 | #887 |
| 2011 | 264 | #970 |
| 2010 | 303 | #877 |
| 2009 | 287 | #930 |
| 2008 | 318 | #875 |
| 2007 | 342 | #838 |
| 2006 | 325 | #830 |
| 2005 | 324 | #799 |
| 2004 | 345 | #758 |
| 2003 | 345 | #738 |
| 2002 | 358 | #700 |
| 2001 | 370 | #675 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Joyce a popular girl name?
Joyce ranked #1072 among girls in 2025 with 226 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #844.
When was the name Joyce most popular?
Joyce peaked in 1942, when 16,728 American girls received the name (ranked #13 that year). Since 1942 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Joyce?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,965 newborn American girls was named Joyce. It scores 66/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.