Derived from both Catalan joia "joy" (ultimately from Classical Latin gaudium via Late Latin gaudia and Old Occitan joia) and Catalan joia "jewel, gem" (ultimately derived from from Latin iocus "game; playing; joke" via Vulgar Latin *jocale "graceful object" and Old French joiel).
Other Forms FormsJoie, Joya (medieval English variants, medieval Jewish variants), Joiette (medieval English and medieval Jewish diminutive), Joye, Joaia, Joayah, Joaïa (medieval French and Jewish variants)
Meaning & History
Derived from Old French joie "joy", ultimately from Late Latin gaudia and Classical Latin gaudium. As a Jewish name, Joia was occasionally used as a translation of Simcha.
indicate the level to which a name has been verified.