Joy Harjo (/ˈhɑːrdʒoʊ/ HAR-joh) is an American poet, musician, playwright, and author. She served as the 23rd United States Poet Laureate, the first Native American to hold that honor. She was also only the second Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to have served three terms (after Robert Pinsky). Harjo is a member of the Muscogee Nation (Este Mvskokvlke) and belongs to Oce Vpofv (Hickory Ground). She is an important figure in the second wave of the literary Native American Renaissance of the late 20th century. She studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts, completed her undergraduate degree at University of New Mexico in 1976, and earned an MFA degree at the University of Iowa in its creative writing program.
My name is Joy. I find it cute, people have given me many compliments on it and I like it to an extent but I find it really ironic and kind of a curse because I am severely unhappy. Some people have even picked on me or made mean remarks because I seem down a lot of the time. It’s okay for the most part though.
― Anonymous User 1/5/2023, edited 1/5/2023
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I find it alright, I never had good experiences with ladies named Joy. I prefer it as a middle name.
My middle name is Joy. It feels easy, uncomplicated, unisex, and playful. I live in Asia where the name is common but when I go to Europe it's very uncommon and I can really make an impression over there when using it as my introductory name. In Europe it's modern, upbeat, stylish and a little boyish while still being feminine!
If I used this name for a future daughter, the only problem would be that depression runs through my family and someone named Joy could be at risk for getting teased at school, but that won't stop me from using it if I want to because it is so cute, wholesome, and sweet! It makes me think of Christmas and happiness! If I had twin girls their names would be Jane and Joy :)
In the TV show “Bones”, the main character was born Joy Keenan before her parents got into legal trouble and had to change her name to Temperance Brennan.
― Anonymous User 10/25/2020
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My first name is Joy and I actually like the name a lot. I DO think it is wonderful as a middle name. I was named Joy because my parents adopted me after they had been married for 10 years and couldn't have their own biological children. Most people tell me that it's fortunate that I'm a happy, peppy and upbeat person. It must be a real drag to be a Joy and also be a giant grouchapotamous.
I love the name Joy! I think it's so adorably sweet, especially for a little girl! I mean, can you imagine a bright little girl with big eyes and a wide smile named Joy? That's just too sweet!
I don't dislike it, but it has never been a favorite. I like the concept of Joy, of course, but I don't particularly care for the sound of the word itself. I prefer Allegra, Felicity, and Hilary, for names with similar meanings.
― Anonymous User 9/24/2018
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I love the name Joy! This was my mother's name. She was born in 1925 in Tyler, TX, a star-sign Leo with a radiant smile and great beauty. My mother Joy had been a professional singer and dancer during WW2, before marriage. She enjoyed designing clothes, possessing a Jackie Kennedy elegance. Every night I recall her reading to us kids. Mom encouraged and nurtured creative talent in my sister and I, who both became artists and writers. In summer she took us swimming at the Air Force Base pool most days; she was a poolside sun-worshiper! Mom and I... we shared a love of art galleries and plays, Silent movies, operettas and ghost stories. We went shopping together, and to the "Doll ospital"for antique dolls with delicately painted porcelain faces and real hair curled in "corkscrews". She filled my young life with enchantment. Christmas was especially magical singing carols around the tree, listening to her sweet soprano voice. Mom was a relaxed mother; my siblings and I were free range kids of the fifties and 60s. She encouraged the tomboy side of both her girls. But unfortunately she died at the age of 42, when I was only 12. None of our family truly got over her death. I will always miss her. So for me Joy is a lovely name, yet haunted with a touch of mystery--and longing.
I don't like virtue names, I prefer names that don't mean anything (other than the etymology). Besides, this name is too short for my taste, but it's not a bad name either.
― Anonymous User 12/19/2016
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We all want Joy. It's almost as if it's too much in a name. Too much to live up to? It's awesome as a middle-name. It's cute as a first name but you gotta know it's gonna be a really strong connotation.
― Anonymous User 7/31/2016
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I like this name, but it seems a bit plain and short for me. I prefer this as a nickname for Joyce, rather than being on its own.
― Anonymous User 2/11/2016
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Joy is such a cute name! ^__^
― Anonymous User 10/20/2015
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I like this name but prefer it as a middle name.
― Anonymous User 8/3/2015
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Makes an okay middle name. But it's incredibly bland as a first name.
― Anonymous User 7/28/2015
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I like the name. Pretty and sweet. We need more Joy in the world. Don't say this name is dated.
It's a beautiful first name as well as a beautiful middle name! Some of my favorite combinations are:Joy Abigail Hannah Joy Joy Alice Isla Joy Liana Joy Margaret JoyI just adore short, sweet, and simple names!
My given name is Joy. I changed it. Too many jokes, plus it did NOT suit me. I am not a Joyful, joyous bundle of cheer as it suggests. I feel bad since Mom chose it because she saw me as "her Joy". But it just didn't suit me. I see it nice for others... I hope one day it will be as popular as Faith, but I doubt it.
― Anonymous User 2/8/2015
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Joy is played by Jane Leaves on "Hot In Cleveland".
― Anonymous User 2/8/2015
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Actually a lovely middle name.
― Anonymous User 2/8/2015
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Nurse Joy, the nurses in Pokémon.
― Anonymous User 7/27/2014
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Joy Lauren (born 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American actress.
― Anonymous User 5/31/2012
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Joy Harjo (born 1951 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American poet and musician.
― Anonymous User 5/31/2012
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Joy Browne (born 1944 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American radio psychologist.
― Anonymous User 5/31/2012
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Josephina Victoria Occhiuto (born 1942 in New York City) is an American talk show host, comedian, and actress. She is known professionally as Joy Behar.
― Anonymous User 5/31/2012
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Joy is my sister's name. She's going to kill me, but it's never been my favorite name. It does suit her well, though.
I like this name. My sister's name is Marlayna Joy. It flows well, don't you think? There is something about the name Joy that is so... joyful and bright!
I love this name. It's much better than the Faith's, Hope's, and Charity's. I prefer rarer Puritan names, like Temperance, Constance, and, of course, Joy. It makes a lovely middle name, but also a lovely first name.
This is my friend's middle name, and it sounds lovely, it is such a happy name and it makes a good middle name. Joy really suits happy people :) But I wouldn't use it as a first name.
I knew a girl in high school whose name was Mary Elizabeth Joy. She went by Mary until either high school or junior high, where she looked at her name and realized that people might start calling her Mary Beth to separate her from any other Mary's (or they had already started to do so). And she HATED the idea of being a Mary Beth, to her it sounded ditzy and oddly 50s. So she had everyone call her Joy. Even now, I can't picture another name on her besides Joy. I rather like Joy. I think it's not only more youthful, but also more versatile, than the variant Joyce.
― Anonymous User 12/27/2009
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This name is a great middle name. As a first name, not as good.
To be honest, I think the name is a bit tacky, and it immediately makes me think that the daughter was named in the afterglow of the birth. It's a bit sentimental, and not in a good way. Plus, it makes me think about the ''Joy to the World'' song.
I want to use this as a middle name for my future daughter. I love the sound and the obvious meaning of the name and it's also the name of a very good friend of mine, so it would honour her as well.
I like the name Joy, because it is a short, simple but very strong name. One of my friends is called Joy and I think it suits her like perfect, although she doesn't like it, the name fits her.
A famous bearer is comedienne and co-host of The View, Joy Behar.
― Anonymous User 11/17/2007
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I love Joy, because it's so joyful! A good friend of mine is called Joy. She doesn't like her name, I don't understand why not, because it's a beautiful name.
This is my first name and ever since I was a little kid, I've strongly disliked it. I live in Holland and there are a lot of Dutch words that rhyme with it. It's quite annoying to have to live with this name. However, I don't discourage people to call their kids Joy, because it's a unique and strong name. The name also suits my personality. People generally see me as a happy person and most people love my name. I just hope it'll grow on me and I'll learn to like it.
If you want to name your daughter something with a happy meaning, this is a nice choice. Joy is a beautiful name. It sounds way better than Happy, too.
Joy is a really sweet name. Also makes a good middle name.
― Anonymous User 10/10/2006
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At first, I really hated the name Joy and didn't like telling people what my middle name is, but it's really grown on me and now I love it! I think it's especially great as a middle name, and I think it sounds really nice with my first name, Amanda.
A very sweet name, but the name 'Jubilee Joy' is just WEIRD. If her sister's name was Charity Chastity or something like that, I'd probably have to ax-murder their mother.
― Anonymous User 11/22/2006
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The Bulgarian name "Radost" (the stress is on the "a") may be considered as an equivalent to "Joy", beacause "Radost" is a feminine name and the word "radost" means "joy" in Bulgarian.
Not necessarily a bad name, but I recently stayed with a girl on a university visit with this name; she was very weird--all she wanted to do was play D&D and roleplay Star Wars. Weird behaviour if you were to ask me.
― Anonymous User 3/18/2006
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Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unisex_name
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_(given_name)
https://www.behindthename.com/name/joy/top/united-states