Names That Mean Joy

Joy names bring together Hebrew, Latin, Arabic and Hawaiian roots. Abigail is Hebrew for my father's joy, the name of a wise woman in the Bible who later married a king. Its many forms include Abby, Abbie, Abbey and Abbigail, each friendly and easy to say. Isaac, the long-awaited son in Genesis, means he will laugh, a reference to his mother's laughter at the promise of his birth, and Issac is a common respelling.

Latin adds Felicity, from felicitas, and Leticia, from laetitia, joy. Arabic offers Farrah and Farah, both meaning joy, and Aliza is Hebrew for joyful. Kalea is a Hawaiian name meaning joy or happiness, and Alaia is often explained as joyful in Basque. Joy itself is a simple English word name that has been used since the Puritans.

These names range from biblical classics to cheerful modern sounds. If you want a strong traditional choice, Abigail or Isaac offers history and plenty of nicknames. If you prefer something short and bright, Joy or Kalea does the job. Siblings named from this list can share a theme without sounding matched, which many families like.