unisex name · in the US
Joey
JOH-ee (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Top 1000 (E&W)
- Births on record 79,909
England and Wales
#163
2025 births
Joey is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God will increase." It is a pet form of Joseph, from Yosef, and is also used for girls as a short form of Josephine or Johanna.
- Joey is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1962, when 1,572 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in US records.
- Today about 1 in 1,592 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1915.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Joey Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1910s to 2020s. Joey is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 37 |
| 1920s | 185 |
| 1930s | 409 |
| 1940s | 1,352 |
| 1950s | 6,613 |
| 1960s | 12,855 |
| 1970s | 12,161 |
| 1980s | 8,782 |
| 1990s | 5,965 |
| 2000s | 5,789 |
| 2010s | 4,717 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,537 |
What Joey Means
Joey means God will add, or God will increase — a request for another child rather than a description of this one. The Hebrew source explains the name at the moment it is given.
Where Joey Comes From
Joey shortens Joseph, from the Hebrew Yosef, from the root y-s-f, to add or increase. Genesis gives the naming twice: Rachel names him for the removal of her reproach and asks the Lord to add another son. Joey is also a pet form of Josephine and Johanna for girls, and it is recorded for both sexes. Separately, joey is the Australian word for a young kangaroo, in use since the 1830s and of uncertain origin — possibly from an Aboriginal language rather than from the name.
Joey in Use
Birth records record Joey for both sexes and shows it stable, peaking in 1962, at 163 in England and Wales. It first appears in birth records in 1915. Its British use is considerably stronger than its American, unusual for a name whose best-known cultural bearer is from Friends.
How Popular Is Joey?
In 2025, Joey was given to 331 babies in England and Wales, ranking #163 that year. It is well established in England and Wales.
Where Joey Is Used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Joey
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Joey Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Joey over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Joey is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 35% girls · 4,405 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 1% girls · 3,919 babies
- Canada Both 19% girls · 1,092 babies
- France Both 31% girls · 995 babies
- Ireland Boys' 0% girls · 624 babies
- Scotland Boys' 0% girls · 495 babies
- Northern Ireland Boys' 0% girls · 143 babies
How to Say Joey
- English JOH-ee /ˈdʒəʊi/
1 nickname for Joey
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Joey in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Joey
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Joey — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Joey
What does the name Joey mean?
Joey means "God will increase," from the Hebrew Yosef, by way of Joseph.
Is Joey a boy's or a girl's name?
Both. It shortens Joseph for boys and Josephine or Johanna for girls.
Why is a baby kangaroo called a joey?
The Australian usage dates from the 1830s and its origin is uncertain — possibly from an Aboriginal language rather than the name.
How popular is the name Joey?
In 2025, Joey was given to 331 babies in England and Wales, ranking #163 that year. It is well established in England and Wales.
How many syllables are in Joey?
Joey has 2 syllables.
When was Joey most popular?
Joey peaked in 1962, when 1,572 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Joey?
Joey is usually shortened to Joe.
Is Joey a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Joey currently ranks #90 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.