Joey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JOE-ee //ˈdʒoʊ.i//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: God will increase; English: diminutive of Joseph
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Joey is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means "he will add" or "God will increase." This name was adopted into Greek as Ioseph and subsequently into Latin as Iosephus. The name made its way into Old French as Josse and eventually into Middle English as Joseph, from which Joey emerged as a diminutive form.
The use of Joey as a standalone name became more common in the 20th century, but its roots trace back to ancient languages and cultures. Historically, the name Joseph is significant in various religious texts.
In the Hebrew Bible, Joseph is a prominent figure, known for his coat of many colors and his rise to power in Egypt, serving as a key character in the Book of Genesis. In Christianity, Joseph is recognized as the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, making the name particularly revered in Christian traditions.
The name appears in significant translations, such as the King James Bible, published in 1611, which helped solidify its usage in English-speaking cultures. Culturally, the name Joey has been associated with qualities such as loyalty and strength, often reflecting the characteristics of its biblical namesake.
The diminutive form Joey conveys a sense of familiarity and affection, which has contributed to its enduring appeal. In various cultures, diminutive forms of names often signify intimacy or endearment, and Joey serves this purpose well, linking back to its origins while maintaining a distinct identity.
Famous people named Joey
In this section, you will find notable people named Joey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Joey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Joey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Joey Tribbiani is a fictional character best known for the television series Friends.
Joey Lawrence is an actor best known for Blossom, Melissa & Joey, and his role in the sitcoms.
Joey Chestnut is a competitive eater best known for winning the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest multiple times.
Joey Bada$$ is a rapper and actor best known for his albums B4.DA.$$ and All-Amerikkkan Bada$$.
Joey McIntyre is a singer and actor best known for being a member of New Kids on the Block and his solo music career.
Joey Fatone is a singer and actor best known for being a member of NSYNC and hosting various television shows.
Fictional characters named Joey
The following list of fictional characters named Joey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Joey Tribbiani is a fictional character from the TV show Friends. He is a lovable, yet somewhat dim-witted actor known for his catchphrase 'How you doin'?' and his charming personality.
Joey Wheeler is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Yu-Gi-Oh!. He is a loyal friend and skilled duelist who often supports the main protagonist, Yugi Mutou, in their battles.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Joey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Joey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Joey was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Joey has ranked as high as #401 nationally, which occurred in 1962, and has been most popular in California, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Joey has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Joey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Joey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Joey (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 58 | |
| TX | 34 | |
| FL | 21 | |
| NY | 15 | |
| WA | 13 | |
| OH | 12 | |
| AZ | 9 | |
| MA | 8 | |
| WI | 7 | |
| PA | 6 | |
| UT | 6 | |
| GA | 6 | |
| IN | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Joey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 266 |
| 2023 | 255 |
| 2022 | 262 |
| 2021 | 252 |
| 2020 | 253 |
| 2019 | 305 |
| 2018 | 322 |
| 2017 | 301 |
| 2016 | 355 |
| 2015 | 318 |
| 2014 | 370 |
| 2013 | 382 |
| 2012 | 404 |
| 2011 | 407 |
| 2010 | 405 |
| 2009 | 408 |
| 2008 | 447 |
| 2007 | 470 |
| 2006 | 474 |
| 2005 | 482 |
| 2004 | 508 |
| 2003 | 496 |
| 2002 | 448 |
| 2001 | 435 |
| 2000 | 481 |
| 1999 | 449 |
| 1998 | 403 |
| 1997 | 441 |
| 1996 | 470 |
| 1995 | 507 |
| 1994 | 554 |
| 1993 | 653 |
| 1992 | 575 |
| 1991 | 651 |
| 1990 | 685 |
| 1989 | 605 |
| 1988 | 619 |
| 1987 | 720 |
| 1986 | 655 |
| 1985 | 764 |
| 1984 | 741 |
| 1983 | 791 |
| 1982 | 1,001 |
| 1981 | 1,072 |
| 1980 | 1,154 |
| 1979 | 1,095 |
| 1978 | 1,072 |
| 1977 | 1,213 |
| 1976 | 1,160 |
| 1975 | 840 |
| 1974 | 855 |
| 1973 | 872 |
| 1972 | 912 |
| 1971 | 1,070 |
| 1970 | 1,136 |
| 1969 | 1,191 |
| 1968 | 1,111 |
| 1967 | 1,068 |
| 1966 | 1,032 |
| 1965 | 1,120 |
| 1964 | 1,362 |
| 1963 | 1,382 |
| 1962 | 1,529 |
| 1961 | 1,257 |
| 1960 | 1,207 |
| 1959 | 1,121 |
| 1958 | 1,067 |
| 1957 | 1,041 |
| 1956 | 946 |
| 1955 | 693 |
| 1954 | 500 |
| 1953 | 328 |
| 1952 | 241 |
| 1951 | 196 |
| 1950 | 188 |
| 1949 | 154 |
| 1948 | 153 |
| 1947 | 174 |
| 1946 | 121 |
| 1945 | 120 |
| 1944 | 137 |
| 1943 | 131 |
| 1942 | 96 |
| 1941 | 52 |
| 1940 | 65 |
| 1939 | 49 |
| 1938 | 31 |
| 1937 | 38 |
| 1936 | 31 |
| 1935 | 35 |
| 1934 | 26 |
| 1933 | 22 |
| 1932 | 28 |
| 1931 | 24 |
| 1930 | 24 |
| 1929 | 16 |
| 1928 | 19 |
| 1927 | 14 |
| 1926 | 15 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 14 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1922 | 12 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1919 | 8 |
| 1916 | 9 |
| 1915 | 6 |