The name Joy is derived from the Middle English word "joye", which itself stems from the Old French "joie" and ultimately from the Latin "gaudium", meaning "gladness" or "delight". It emerged as a given name in the 16th century, likely inspired by the virtue of joy or joyfulness.

Joy has its roots in the Christian tradition, where it is considered one of the seven heavenly virtues and is often associated with the spiritual joy found through faith and devotion. The name may have been used to express the joy felt by parents upon the birth of a child or to represent their wish for the child to lead a joyful life.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joy can be found in the 17th century. Joy Jeffries (1615-1685) was an English Puritan minister who served as a chaplain during the English Civil War. Another notable figure from this era was Joy Banger (1642-1705), an English writer and translator.

In the 18th century, Joy Lyman (1729-1828) was an American Revolutionary War soldier and one of the last surviving veterans of the conflict. Joy Adamson (1910-1980), a renowned conservationist and author, is best known for her work with lions in Kenya and her book "Born Free".

The 20th century saw the name Joy gain increased popularity. Joy Bright Hancock (1898-1986) was an American composer and pianist, while Joy Davidman (1915-1960) was a writer and poet who became the wife of C.S. Lewis. Joy Mukherjee (1939-2012) was a popular Indian actor who appeared in numerous Bollywood films.

Other notable individuals with the name Joy include Joy Williams (born 1944), an American novelist and short story writer, and Joy Harjo (born 1951), a renowned Native American poet and musician who served as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2022.