Joy Facts for Kids

Joy is a strong emotion of great happiness. It's that wonderful feeling you get when something really good happens!

The word "Joy" can also be a person's name. Because of this, "Joy" can refer to many different things.

Joy as a Name

The name "Joy" can be used as a last name (surname) or a first name. Many interesting people throughout history and today have been named Joy.

Here are some notable people who have "Joy" as their last name:

Here are some famous people named Joy as their first name:

Joy Behar: An American comedian and TV host, known from The View.
Joy Davidman: An American writer and the wife of famous author C. S. Lewis.
Joy Fawcett: An American soccer player who played for the national team.
Joy Harjo: An American poet who writes beautiful verses.
Joy Lauren: An American actress.
Joy Williams: A Christian singer.
Judy-Joy Davies: An Australian swimmer from the 1940s.
Nurse Joy: A fictional character from the Pokémon series who runs Pokémon Centers.

The word "Joy" also appears in many famous books and poems.

Joy: A novel written in 1990 by Marsha Hunt.
"Ode to Joy": A very famous poem written in 1785 by the German poet Friedrich Schiller.
Surprised by Joy: An autobiographical book by C. S. Lewis, where he writes about his life.

Music often expresses feelings of joy. Here are some musical works and groups named "Joy":

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: The final part of this famous symphony is also called "Ode to Joy." It was inspired by Schiller's poem.
Joy to the World: This is the name of a well-known Christmas carol and other songs.
Joy: The last album by the band The Skids.
Joy: A short music album (EP) by the American punk band the Minutemen.
Songs named "Joy": Many artists have songs titled "Joy," including Lucinda Williams, François Feldman, and Mick Jagger.
Joy: An Austrian band famous for their 1985 hit song Touch By Touch.
Joy Division: A well-known band from the United Kingdom.
Joy Electric: A music project by Ronnie Martin, known for its electropop and synth-pop style.
Joy Records: The name of a record label.

There are several places around the world that have "Joy" in their name:

Joy, Illinois: A small village located in the United States.
Joys Green: A village found in Gloucestershire, England.
Joy Range: A mountain range located on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada.
Port La-Joye / Fort Amherst: A place in Canada, whose French name means "Port of Joy."
Mount Joy: Several places around the world are called Mount Joy.

"Joy" can also refer to other interesting things:

Joy Buzzer: A fun trick device that gives a harmless buzz when you shake someone's hand.
Joy: A special type of computer programming language.
Joy Melbourne: A radio station located in Melbourne, Australia.
Joy dishwashing liquid: A brand of soap used for washing dishes.
The Joy of Painting: A popular television show where artist Bob Ross taught viewers how to paint.
Joystick: A control device used for playing computer games.
USS Turner Joy: A United States Navy destroyer ship, named after Admiral C. Turner Joy.

Laughter, like that of these Bangladeshi children, is a typical expression of joy.