Amelia vs Joy
Amelia and Joycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Joy #467 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Joy #384 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Amelia was ranked #9 and Joy #264 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Joy #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Amelia and Joy over time
Amelia and Joy appear together in 4 published lists, across 129 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Joy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Amelia in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Amelia moved ahead of Joy in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #302 and #278 the year before became #189 and #289.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Joy changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #12 and #608.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Joy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 39 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #467.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #7 in 2024, Joy #384 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1965–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Joy in 23.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Joy #185 in 1982.
The order changed in 2002: Amelia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #302 and #278; by 2002 that had become #189 and #289.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Joy #608.
England and Wales · Girls39 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Joy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Joy #449 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Joy #467.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1997–2023
Amelia held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Joy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Joy #215 in 2017.
The order changed in 2001: Amelia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #344 and #291; by 2001 that had become #206 and #293.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amelia #9, Joy #264.
Scotland · Girls16 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Joy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Joy #384 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Joy #384.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Amelia | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Joy does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Joy.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Joy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Joy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Joy
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1960
Highest recorded position: #62 among girls in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1960).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls