Joey

Updated: September 29, 2023 by Sarah Nance

Most people think of the baby name Joey as a nickname for Joseph, but many people use it as a given name in its own right. It's been on the chart of the top 1,000 baby names for boys in the United States for about 80 years, and it even spent about a decade as a popular name for girls as well. It is a name largely associated with the Bible, but it's got roots in pop culture in more recent years.

Meaning and Origin of the name Joey:

Joey is derived from Joseph, which is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef. It means “God will add, most likely because Joseph in the Old Testament was Jacob's 11th son.

Symbolism of the name Joey:

Joseph is a name used at least three times in the Bible, so it may be symbolic to those of the Christian faith. Because of its meaning and association with Jacob's 11th son, it could also be symbolic of having another son or child.

Nicknames for the name Joey:

Jo
Joe
JoJo
Jay
JJ
Josie
Joja
Juju
Joyah

Style of the name Joey:

Modern

Gender of the name Joey:

Joey is a great name for both boys and girls.

Pronunciation of the name Joey:

JOH-ee

Number of syllables in the name Joey:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Joey:

The baby name Joey evokes images of someone who is energetic and enjoys taking action.

Alternative spellings for the name Joey:

Joee
Joeigh
Joie

Popularity of the name Joey:

According to the Social Security Administration, Joey has been a top 1,000 baby name for boys since 1939. In 2020, it ranked at number 895. For girls, it spent a brief time on the chart of the top 1,000 baby names in the United States between 1968 and 1979.