Joyce is a feminine given name of English origin, derived from the Middle English word 'joye', which means "joy" or "happiness". The name Joyce was popularized by James Joyce, an Irish novelist and poet, who used it as the given name for the main female character in his novel "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man", published in 1916. Prior to this, the name was not commonly used and was often considered outdated. However, after the publication of the novel, Joyce became popular among parents seeking unique and meaningful names for their daughters. Today, Joyce is still recognized as a classic name with a strong association with literary heritage.
The name Joyce has been a popular choice for newborn girls in the United States since the late 19th century. The first recorded birth of a girl named Joyce occurred in 1882, with only seven births that year. However, the popularity of the name began to grow steadily over the next few decades.
From 1885 to 1897, the number of girls named Joyce ranged from seven to 40 births per year. But in 1898, there was a significant jump to 45 births, marking the beginning of a period of increased popularity for the name. This trend continued throughout the early 20th century, with over 100 girls named Joyce born each year from 1910 onwards.
The peak of popularity for the name Joyce occurred in the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1927, there were 6,684 births, and by 1932, this number had risen to 11,362 births per year. This represented a significant increase from the previous decade, when around 5,000 girls named Joyce were born annually.
However, after reaching its peak in popularity, the name Joyce began to decline in usage over time. By the mid-1940s, the number of girls named Joyce had fallen below 15,000 births per year, and this downward trend continued throughout the remainder of the century.
In recent years, the name Joyce has seen a resurgence in popularity among parents in the United States. After reaching its lowest point in 2006 with only 287 births, the number of girls named Joyce has steadily increased each year since then. In 2021, there were 345 births recorded for the name Joyce, marking a significant rebound from its earlier lows.
Overall, the name Joyce has had a long and storied history in the United States, with periods of both high and low popularity over the past century and a half. Despite fluctuations in usage, it remains an enduring choice among parents looking to give their daughters a classic yet unique name.