125+ Uplifting Baby Names Meaning Joy, Peace, and Hope

Looking for baby names meaning joy, peace, or hope? This list is full of uplifting choices that carry genuine positivity – names that feel like a blessing for your little one’s future.

Here’s what’s in store –

TheBump called “joybait names” the number one trend for 2026 – and it makes perfect sense. Parents are countering the negativity in the world with intentionally positive, hopeful names. The name Truce jumped an incredible 11,000 spots. Haven, True, and Harmony are all climbing.

If you want your baby’s name to carry genuine meaning – something that feels like a wish for their life – this list has you covered.

Names Meaning Joy & Happiness

Names that carry pure happiness and delight in their meaning.

Joy

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: JOY · ˈdʒɔɪ
• Meaning: great happiness or delight
• Popularity: #442 and rising (#454 → #442, 2024)

Felicity

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: fuh-LISS-ih-tee · fəˈlɪsɪti
• Meaning: happiness, good fortune (from Latin felicitas)
• Popularity: #486 and falling (#455 → #486, 2024)

Beatrice

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: BEE-uh-tris · ˈbiːətrɪs
• Meaning: one who brings happiness (also glossed “blessed one”)
• Popularity: #579 and rising (#588 → #579, 2024)

Bliss

• Origin: Old English (bliss/blīþs, ‘joy’)
• Pronunciation: BLIS · ˈblɪs
• Meaning: perfect joy or happiness
• Popularity: #2,192 and falling (#2,061 → #2,192, 2024)

Asher

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: ASH-er · ˈæʃər
• Meaning: happy, blessed
• Popularity: #20 and rising (#23 → #20, 2024)

Felix

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: FEE-liks · ˈfiːlɪks
• Meaning: happy, fortunate, lucky
• Popularity: #177 and rising (#192 → #177, 2024)

Blythe

• Origin: Old English (surname)
• Pronunciation: BLYTHE · ˈblaɪð
• Meaning: cheerful, merry, carefree — from Old English blīþe, ultimately Proto-Germanic *blīþiz (‘gentle, kind’)
• Popularity: #1,862 and falling (#1,855 → #1,862, 2024)

Alaia

• Origin: Basque
• Pronunciation: ah-LY-ah · əˈlaɪə
• Meaning: joyful, cheerful
• Popularity: #112 and rising (#120 → #112, 2024)

Gioia

• Origin: Italian
• Pronunciation: JOH-yuh · ˈdʒɔɪə
• Meaning: joy (gem)
• Popularity: #5,484 and rising (#5,815 → #5,484, 2024)

Letitia

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: lə-TISH-ə · ləˈtɪʃə
• Meaning: gladness, joy
• Popularity: #12,852 and rising (#16,667 → #12,852, 2024)

Radley

• Origin: Old English (place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: RAD-lee · ˈrædli
• Meaning: red clearing/meadow (rēad ‘red’ + lēah ‘wood, clearing’)
• Popularity: #1,583 and rising (#1,781 → #1,583, 2024)

Jubilee

• Origin: Hebrew (via Greek and Latin)
• Pronunciation: JOO-bih-lee · ˈdʒuːbɪliː
• Meaning: originally ‘ram’s horn’ (the trumpet announcing a biblical year of release); broadened in English to mean a joyous celebration or anniversary
• Popularity: #1,103 and rising (#1,303 → #1,103, 2024)

Faine

• Origin: uncertain (possibly English, related to archaic ‘fain’ meaning glad, or an elaboration of Fay/Fae)
• Pronunciation: FAYN · feɪn
• Meaning: joyful; glad
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Merry

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: MER-ee · ˈmɛri
• Meaning: joyful or cheerful, from the adjective ‘merry’
• Popularity: #7,117 and rising (#10,081 → #7,117, 2024)

Cayo

• Origin: Spanish (surname, equivalent of Gaetano, from Latin Caietanus)
• Pronunciation: KAH-yoh · ˈkaɪoʊ
• Meaning: man from Gaeta (a town in Italy)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Names Meaning Peace & Serenity

Calm, serene names that carry tranquility.

Serenity

• Origin: English (modern coinage from the vocabulary word ‘serenity’)
• Pronunciation: suh-REN-ih-tee · səˈrɛnɪti
• Meaning: peacefulness, calm
• Popularity: #117 and falling (#103 → #117, 2024)

Truce

• Origin: English (word name)
• Pronunciation: TROOS · ˈtruːs
• Meaning: a temporary halt to fighting, a ceasefire
• Popularity: #991 and rising (#12,109 → #991, 2024)

Harmony

• Origin: Greek (via Latin harmonia)
• Pronunciation: HAR-muh-nee · ˈhɑːrməni
• Meaning: harmony, concord, agreement
• Popularity: #264 and falling (#231 → #264, 2024)

Solomon

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: SOL-uh-mun · ˈsɑːləmən
• Meaning: peace
• Popularity: #417 and rising (#438 → #417, 2024)

Irene

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: eye-REEN · aɪˈriːn
• Meaning: peace
• Popularity: #638 and rising (#675 → #638, 2024)

Pax

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: PAKS · ˈpæks
• Meaning: Peace; also the Roman goddess who personified peace
• Popularity: #1,976 and rising (#2,287 → #1,976, 2024)

Salome

• Origin: Hebrew (via Greek)
• Pronunciation: suh-LOH-mee · səˈloʊmi
• Meaning: peace
• Popularity: #952 and rising (#1,113 → #952, 2024)

Frederick

• Origin: German
• Pronunciation: FRED-rik · ˈfrɛdrɪk
• Meaning: peaceful ruler
• Popularity: #423 and rising (#506 → #423, 2024)

Winifred

• Origin: Old English / Welsh (conflated names)
• Pronunciation: WIN-ih-fred · ˈwɪnɪfrɪd
• Meaning: joy and peace (Old English), merged with the separate Welsh name Gwenfrewi
• Popularity: #1,031 and falling (#963 → #1,031, 2024)

Shiloh

• Origin: Hebrew (name of a biblical city)
• Pronunciation: SHY-loh · ˈʃaɪloʊ
• Meaning: tranquil; peaceful
• Popularity: #260 and rising (#286 → #260, 2024)

Salem

• Origin: Hebrew (feminine use) and Arabic (masculine use, as Salim)
• Pronunciation: SAY-lum · ˈseɪləm
• Meaning: peace, wholeness (from the Hebrew place name for ancient Jerusalem); the Arabic-derived masculine use means ‘safe, unharmed’
• Popularity: #430 and falling (#417 → #430, 2024)

Frida

• Origin: Old Norse / Germanic (two distinct origins)
• Pronunciation: FREE-dah · ˈfriːdə
• Meaning: beautiful/beloved (Scandinavian) or short form of “peace” names (Germanic)
• Popularity: #1,252 and falling (#1,153 → #1,252, 2024)

Olive

• Origin: English (medieval saint’s name Oliva, from Latin oliva)
• Pronunciation: AH-liv · ˈɑːlɪv
• Meaning: olive tree; popularly linked to peace via the olive-branch symbol
• Popularity: #171 and rising (#180 → #171, 2024)

Paloma

• Origin: Spanish (from Latin)
• Pronunciation: puh-LOH-mah · pəˈloʊmə
• Meaning: dove
• Popularity: #971 and rising (#974 → #971, 2024)

Stellan

• Origin: Swedish (etymology not firmly established)
• Pronunciation: STEL-an · ˈstɛlən
• Meaning: calm; peaceful
• Popularity: #1,441 and rising (#1,485 → #1,441, 2024)

Names Meaning Hope

Names that carry optimism and the promise of good things to come.

Hope

• Origin: English (Middle English hope, from Old English hopian)
• Pronunciation: HOHP · ˈhoʊp
• Meaning: positive expectation, trust in a desired outcome (a Puritan virtue name)
• Popularity: #317 and falling (#303 → #317, 2024)

Esperanza

• Origin: Spanish
• Pronunciation: es-puh-RAHN-zah · ˌɛspəˈrɑːnzə
• Meaning: hope
• Popularity: #1,017 and falling (#990 → #1,017, 2024)

Nadia

• Origin: Slavic/Arabic
• Pronunciation: NAH-dee-ah · ˈnɑːdiə
• Meaning: hope (Slavic, from Nadezhda); also ‘tender’ in Arabic usage
• Popularity: #513 and falling (#489 → #513, 2024)

Phoenix

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: FEE-niks · ˈfiːnɪks
• Meaning: the mythical firebird symbolizing rebirth and renewal
• Popularity: #275 and falling (#269 → #275, 2024)

Cyrus

• Origin: Old Persian (via Greek Kŷros)
• Pronunciation: SY-rus · ˈsaɪrəs
• Meaning: sun; hopeful
• Popularity: #254 and rising (#296 → #254, 2024)

Jesse

• Origin: Hebrew (biblical)
• Pronunciation: JES-ee · ˈdʒɛsi
• Meaning: Hebrew name of debated root, often glossed ‘gift’ or ‘God exists’
• Popularity: #187 and rising (#202 → #187, 2024)

Nadira

• Origin: Arabic (disputed root, feminine form of Nadir)
• Pronunciation: nah-DEER-uh · nɑːˈdɪərə
• Meaning: rare, exceptional
• Popularity: #7,460 and rising (#8,350 → #7,460, 2024)

Dawn

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: DAWN · ˈdɔːn
• Meaning: first light of day, from the common noun “dawn”
• Popularity: #1,850 and rising (#2,338 → #1,850, 2024)

Neo

• Origin: Greek (modern coinage)
• Pronunciation: NEE-oh · ˈniːoʊ
• Meaning: new
• Popularity: #969 and rising (#974 → #969, 2024)

Zara

• Origin: English/Hebrew (variant of Sarah) or Arabic
• Pronunciation: ZAR-ah · ˈzɑːrə
• Meaning: uncertain — either from Sarah (‘princess’) or Arabic zahra (‘flower’)
• Popularity: #234 and rising (#236 → #234, 2024)

Kit

• Origin: English (nickname, multiple source names); also a Ukrainian-derived name meaning ‘tomcat’
• Pronunciation: KIT · ˈkɪt
• Meaning: depends on the full name: ‘bearer of Christ’ (short for Christopher); popularly ‘pure’ when short for Katherine/Kathleen (though Katherine’s own etymology is actually uncertain)
• Popularity: #1,150 and rising (#1,152 → #1,150, 2024)

Verity

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: VER-ih-tee · ˈvɛrəti
• Meaning: truth (a Puritan virtue name)
• Popularity: #1,875 and falling (#1,706 → #1,875, 2024)

Names Meaning Love & Grace

Names that carry love, kindness, and blessing.

Grace

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: GRAYS · ˈgreɪs
• Meaning: virtue name from Latin ‘grace/favor’, evoking both divine favor and physical elegance
• Popularity: #40 and falling (#39 → #40, 2024)

Haven

• Origin: English (modern word name)
• Pronunciation: HAY-ven · ˈheɪvən
• Meaning: a safe harbor or place of refuge, taken directly from the vocabulary word
• Popularity: #201 and rising (#218 → #201, 2024)

True

• Origin: Old English
• Pronunciation: TROO · ˈtruː
• Meaning: faithful, genuine, and loyal
• Popularity: #986 and falling (#982 → #986, 2024)

Amara

• Origin: modern coinage (popularized by fantasy fiction)
• Pronunciation: ah-MAR-ah · əˈmɑːrə
• Meaning: grace; eternal
• Popularity: #121 and rising (#123 → #121, 2024)

Charity

• Origin: English (virtue name, ultimately Latin)
• Pronunciation: CHAIR-it-ee · ˈtʃɛrɪti
• Meaning: the Christian virtue of selfless love and generosity
• Popularity: #2,037 and falling (#1,740 → #2,037, 2024)

Carys

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: KAR-iss · ˈkærɪs
• Meaning: love
• Popularity: #4,669 and rising (#5,587 → #4,669, 2024)

Amor

• Origin: Spanish/Portuguese/Latin (the word for ‘love’)
• Pronunciation: ah-MOR · ɑːˈmɔːr
• Meaning: love
• Popularity: #1,434 and rising (#1,458 → #1,434, 2024)

Mercy

• Origin: English (17th-century Puritan virtue name)
• Pronunciation: MER-see · ˈmɜːrsi
• Meaning: compassion, mercy
• Popularity: #849 and falling (#834 → #849, 2024)

Clement

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: KLEM-ent · ˈklɛmənt
• Meaning: merciful
• Popularity: #2,260 and rising (#2,394 → #2,260, 2024)

Blessing

• Origin: English (transparent word-name, chiefly used in African, especially West African/Nigerian, English)
• Pronunciation: BLES-ing · ˈblɛsɪŋ
• Meaning: a blessing or gift from God
• Popularity: #1,112 and falling (#955 → #1,112, 2024)

Milo

• Origin: uncertain (Latinate variant of Miles, possibly Germanic or Slavic)
• Pronunciation: MY-loh · ˈmaɪloʊ
• Meaning: merciful; gracious
• Popularity: #120 and rising (#121 → #120, 2024)

Ruth

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: ROOTH · ˈruːθ
• Meaning: possibly ‘companion’ (the Hebrew root is uncertain)
• Popularity: #172 and rising (#187 → #172, 2024)

Rising Joybait Names

The names climbing fastest as parents embrace positivity.

Ever

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: EV-er · ˈɛvər
• Meaning: always, at all times
• Popularity: #1,070 and falling (#1,062 → #1,070, 2024)

Sage

• Origin: English (from Old French/Latin)
• Pronunciation: SAYJ · ˈseɪdʒ
• Meaning: a wise person; also linked to the sage herb plant
• Popularity: #146 and falling (#143 → #146, 2024)

Noble

• Origin: English (word name, from Latin nobilis)
• Pronunciation: NOH-bul · ˈnoʊbəl
• Meaning: noble, distinguished
• Popularity: #1,233 and rising (#1,262 → #1,233, 2024)

Journey

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: JER-nee · ˈdʒɜːrni
• Meaning: a trip or passage from one place to another
• Popularity: #322 and rising (#333 → #322, 2024)

Story

• Origin: English (word name, ultimately from Latin ‘historia’)
• Pronunciation: STOR-ee · ˈstɔːri
• Meaning: a narrative or tale
• Popularity: #1,590 and rising (#2,087 → #1,590, 2024)

Legend

• Origin: English (word name)
• Pronunciation: LEJ-und · ˈlɛdʒənd
• Meaning: an extraordinary story or renowned figure
• Popularity: #157 and falling (#145 → #157, 2024)

More Names We Love

Abigail

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: AB-ih-gayl · ˈæbɪɡeɪl
• Meaning: my father’s joy
• Popularity: #32 and falling (#31 → #32, 2024)

Eden

• Origin: Hebrew (boys’ use sometimes from an unrelated English surname)
• Pronunciation: EE-den · ˈiːdən
• Meaning: traditionally glossed ‘delight,’ referencing the biblical Garden of Eden; some scholars trace the underlying word to a Sumerian term for ‘steppe/plain’ instead
• Popularity: #72 and rising (#77 → #72, 2024)

Tate

• Origin: Old English/Germanic; also Old Norse
• Pronunciation: TAYT · ˈteɪt
• Meaning: cheerful, glad, radiant (Old English/Germanic root); a separate Old Norse personal-name strand is of unknown meaning
• Popularity: #210 and falling (#197 → #210, 2024)

Sunny

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: SUN-ee · ˈsʌni
• Meaning: cheerful, full of sunshine
• Popularity: #372 and rising (#406 → #372, 2024)

Miley

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: MY-lee · ˈmaɪli
• Meaning: smiley, cheerful
• Popularity: #387 and rising (#449 → #387, 2024)

Abby

• Origin: Hebrew (via Abigail)
• Pronunciation: AB-ee · ˈæbi
• Meaning: father’s joy (via Abigail)
• Popularity: #626 and falling (#624 → #626, 2024)

Aliza

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: uh-LEE-zuh · əˈliːzə
• Meaning: joyful
• Popularity: #659 and rising (#661 → #659, 2024)

Dakari

• Origin: Shona (Zimbabwean), likely from Dakarai
• Pronunciation: dah-KAR-ee · dəˈkɑːri
• Meaning: rejoice, be happy
• Popularity: #793 and falling (#770 → #793, 2024)

Nyomi

• Origin: Hebrew (phonetic variant of Naomi)
• Pronunciation: ny-OH-mee · naɪˈoʊmi
• Meaning: pleasantness, my delight
• Popularity: #817 and falling (#812 → #817, 2024)

Lettie

• Origin: English, from Letitia/Lettice
• Pronunciation: LET-ee · ˈlɛti
• Meaning: gladness, joy (via Letitia or Lettice)
• Popularity: #936 and rising (#1,133 → #936, 2024)

Farah

• Origin: Arabic
• Pronunciation: FAIR-ah · ˈfɛrə
• Meaning: joy; happiness
• Popularity: #1,363 and falling (#1,310 → #1,363, 2024)

Kalea

• Origin: Hawaiian
• Pronunciation: kah-LAY-ah · kɑːˈleɪə
• Meaning: the joy, the pleasure
• Popularity: #1,364 and rising (#1,415 → #1,364, 2024)

Beatrix

• Origin: Latin (variant of Beatrice)
• Pronunciation: BEE-uh-triks · ˈbiːətrɪks
• Meaning: variant of Beatrice — brings happiness / blessed
• Popularity: #1,379 and rising (#1,401 → #1,379, 2024)

Said

• Origin: Arabic (widely used in Swahili-speaking East Africa)
• Pronunciation: sah-EED · sɑːˈiːd
• Meaning: happy, fortunate
• Popularity: #1,572 and rising (#1,660 → #1,572, 2024)

Lowen

• Origin: Cornish
• Pronunciation: LOH-en · ˈloʊɛn
• Meaning: joyful, happy
• Popularity: #1,973 and rising (#2,282 → #1,973, 2024)

Simcha

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: SIM-khuh
• Meaning: joy, gladness
• Popularity: #2,050 and rising (#2,269 → #2,050, 2024)

Hillary

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: HIL-uh-ree · ˈhɪləri
• Meaning: cheerful
• Popularity: #2,326 and rising (#2,499 → #2,326, 2024)

Rina

• Origin: multiple origins
• Pronunciation: REE-nah · ˈriːnə
• Meaning: a multi-origin name: ‘song’/’joy’ in Hebrew, ‘melted/dissolved’ in Sanskrit, kanji-dependent in Japanese, and a short form of Katherine-type names (Caterina, Katharina, Ekaterina) in Europe
• Popularity: #2,372 and rising (#2,457 → #2,372, 2024)

Allegra

• Origin: Italian
• Pronunciation: uh-LEG-rah · əˈlɛɡrə
• Meaning: cheerful, lively
• Popularity: #3,748 and falling (#3,045 → #3,748, 2024)

Ilaria

• Origin: Italian (from Latin hilarius)
• Pronunciation: ih-LAH-ree-ah · ɪˈlɑːriə
• Meaning: cheerful
• Popularity: #3,986 and falling (#3,150 → #3,986, 2024)

Anand

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: AH-nund · ˈɑːnənd
• Meaning: joy, bliss
• Popularity: #4,186 and rising (#4,225 → #4,186, 2024)

Felicia

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: feh-LEE-shuh · fəˈliːʃə
• Meaning: happy, fortunate (from Latin felix, via the phrase ‘tempora felicia, ‘ happy times)
• Popularity: #4,489 and falling (#3,929 → #4,489, 2024)

Avigayil

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: ah-vee-GUY-il · ˌɑːviːˈɡaɪɪl
• Meaning: father’s joy
• Popularity: #5,306 and falling (#5,013 → #5,306, 2024)

Keiko

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: KAY-koh · ˈkeɪkoʊ
• Meaning: happy/blessed child (one common reading, meaning depends on kanji)
• Popularity: #5,507 and falling (#5,059 → #5,507, 2024)

Sachi

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: SAH-chee · ˈsɑːtʃi
• Meaning: happiness, good fortune
• Popularity: #6,569 and rising (#7,188 → #6,569, 2024)

Gail

• Origin: Hebrew (via Abigail)
• Pronunciation: GAYL · ɡeɪl
• Meaning: short form of Abigail (‘my father’s joy’)
• Popularity: #6,715 and falling (#5,811 → #6,715, 2024)

Lita

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: LEE-tah · ˈliːtə
• Meaning: joyful, gladly
• Popularity: #8,204 and falling (#7,487 → #8,204, 2024)

Ayomikun

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: ah-yoh-MEE-koon · ˌɑːjoʊˈmiːkʊn
• Meaning: a compound meaning roughly ‘my joy is complete,’ from Yoruba elements for joy, ‘my,’ and ‘is full’
• Popularity: #9,044 and falling (#8,994 → #9,044, 2024)

Trixie

• Origin: Latin (via Beatrix)
• Pronunciation: TRIK-see · ˈtrɪksi
• Meaning: pet form of Beatrix, from Latin beatus, ‘blessed, happy’
• Popularity: #9,475 and rising (#10,243 → #9,475, 2024)

Macarius

• Origin: Greek (via Latin, from makarios, ‘blessed’)
• Pronunciation: muh-KAIR-ee-us · məˈkɛəriəs
• Meaning: blessed, happy
• Popularity: #9,498 and rising (#13,420 → #9,498, 2024)

Shadi

• Origin: Arabic/Persian
• Pronunciation: shah-DEE · ʃɑːˈdiː
• Meaning: joy, happiness
• Popularity: #9,700 and rising (#10,625 → #9,700, 2024)

Adebayo

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: ah-deh-BAH-yoh · ɑːdɛˈbɑːjoʊ
• Meaning: the crown arrives with joy
• Popularity: #9,878 and rising (#12,376 → #9,878, 2024)

Ayodeji

• Origin: Yoruba (compound name)
• Pronunciation: ah-yoh-DEH-jee · ˌɑːjoʊˈdɛdʒi
• Meaning: Roughly ‘joy has come again’ (ayọ̀ ‘joy’ + dé ‘arrive’)
• Popularity: #9,987 and falling (#9,061 → #9,987, 2024)

Hephzibah

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: HEF-zi-buh · ˈhɛfzɪbə
• Meaning: my delight is in her
• Popularity: #11,445 and falling (#9,855 → #11,445, 2024)

Ramin

• Origin: Persian
• Pronunciation: rah-MEEN · rɑːˈmiːn
• Meaning: associated with Ram, the Zoroastrian spirit of joy
• Popularity: #11,976 and rising (#13,690 → #11,976, 2024)

Liron

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: lee-ROHN · liˈroʊn
• Meaning: my song, my joy
• Popularity: #13,402 and falling (#13,289 → #13,402, 2024)

Miyuki

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: mee-YOO-kee · mi.jɯ.ki
• Meaning: varies by kanji spelling; commonly ‘deep snow’ (深雪) or ‘beautiful happiness’ (美幸)
• Popularity: #14,664 and falling (#14,599 → #14,664, 2024)

Rada

• Origin: Slavic (from *radъ, ‘glad’)
• Pronunciation: RAH-duh · ˈrɑːdə
• Meaning: joyful
• Popularity: #14,824 and falling (#13,141 → #14,824, 2024)

Bahija

• Origin: Arabic
• Pronunciation: bah-HEE-jah · bæˈhiː.dʒɐ
• Meaning: cheerful, joyful
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Euphrosyne

• Origin: Greek
• Pronunciation: yoo-FROS-ih-nee · juːˈfrɒsɪni
• Meaning: joy, good cheer
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Farrokh

• Origin: Persian
• Pronunciation: fuh-ROKH · fəˈroʊk
• Meaning: happy, fortunate
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hwanhee

• Origin: Korean
• Pronunciation: HWAHN-hee · ˈhwɑːnhiː
• Meaning: joy, delight
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Khanh

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: KAHN · ˈkɑːn
• Meaning: celebration, joy
• Popularity: #14,491 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ligaya

• Origin: Filipino (Tagalog)
• Pronunciation: lee-GAH-yah · liˈɡɑːjə
• Meaning: happiness, joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sunhee

• Origin: Korean (compound given name)
• Pronunciation: SOON-hee · ˈsuːnhiː
• Meaning: traditionally combines elements read as ‘gentle/virtuous’ and ‘joy’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Thabo

• Origin: Tswana/Sotho (Bantu)
• Pronunciation: TAH-boh · ˈtɑːboʊ
• Meaning: joy, happiness
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tirtzah

• Origin: Hebrew (variant spelling of Tirzah)
• Pronunciation: TEER-tsah · ˈtɪərtsə
• Meaning: pleasant; ‘she is my delight’ (same as Tirzah)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Vuyo

• Origin: Zulu
• Pronunciation: VOO-yoh · ˈvuːjoʊ
• Meaning: happiness
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ziyi

• Origin: Chinese (romanized, character-dependent)
• Pronunciation: ZEE-yee · ˈziːjiː
• Meaning: commonly associated with 怡 (yí, ‘joyful, harmonious’), though character-dependent
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Festus

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: FES-təs · ˈfɛstəs
• Meaning: cheerful, joyous
• Popularity: #12,824 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Titilayo

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: tee-tee-LY-oh · tiː.tiːˈlaɪ.oʊ
• Meaning: Everlasting joy
• Popularity: #17,926 as of 2018 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Funmilayo

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: foon-mee-LAH-yoh · fʊnmiːˈlɑːjoʊ
• Meaning: give me joy (Yoruba fún ‘give’ + mi ‘me’ + ayọ̀ ‘joy’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ibidun

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: ee-bee-DOON · iːbiːˈduːn
• Meaning: sweet birth / born into joy (Yoruba bí ‘to be born’ + dùn ‘to be sweet, pleasant’); usually a shortening of a longer name such as Ìbídùnmóyè
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Harshita

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: har-SHEE-tah · hɑːrˈʃiːtə
• Meaning: joyful, delighted
• Popularity: #16,188 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sukh

• Origin: Punjabi (Sanskrit-derived)
• Pronunciation: SOOKH · sʊkʰ
• Meaning: peace, happiness, or ease
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Anuli

• Origin: Igbo (Nigeria)
• Pronunciation: ah-NOO-lee · ɑːˈnuːli
• Meaning: joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ahyoka

• Origin: Cherokee
• Pronunciation: ah-YOH-kuh · ɑːˈjoʊkə
• Meaning: she brought happiness
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Narmada

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: NAR-muh-dah
• Meaning: sacred river-goddess of central India, her name traditionally analyzed as ‘giver of delight’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Preethi

• Origin: Sanskrit (used across South Indian languages, e.g. Telugu)
• Pronunciation: PREE-thee · ˈpriː.ti
• Meaning: love, affection, joy
• Popularity: #13,395 as of 2009 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Dahee

• Origin: Sino-Korean
• Pronunciation: DAH-hee · dɑːˈhiː
• Meaning: very joyful (多喜), or very bright/flourishing (多熙), depending on which hanja is used for the second syllable
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Yefrosinya

• Origin: Greek (via Russian, from Euphrosyne)
• Pronunciation: yeh-froh-SEEN-yah · jɪfrɐˈsʲinʲjə
• Meaning: joy, mirth, good cheer
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Priyadarshini

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: pree-yuh-dar-SHEE-nee · ˌpriːjədɑːrˈʃiːni
• Meaning: pleasant to look upon, a joy to see
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hilarius

• Origin: Latin (from Greek hilaros, ‘cheerful’)
• Pronunciation: hih-LAIR-ee-us · hɪˈlɛəriəs
• Meaning: cheerful, merry
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ayọkunlé

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: ah-yaw-KOON-leh
• Meaning: Joy fills the house
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Fáyọ̀kùn

• Origin: Yoruba (Ifá theophoric)
• Pronunciation: fah-yaw-KOON · fɑːjɔːˈkũ
• Meaning: Ifá fills [one] with joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Olúwadáyọ

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: oh-loo-wah-DAH-yoh · oʊluːwɑːˈdɑːjoʊ
• Meaning: God has turned this into joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Olúwakáyọdé

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: oh-loo-wah-kah-yoh-DAY · oʊluːwɑːkɑːjoʊˈdeɪ
• Meaning: God arrived bringing joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ìfẹ̀dáyọ

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: ee-feh-DAH-yaw · iːfɛˈdɑːjɔː
• Meaning: love turns into joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ọmọtáyọ̀

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: oh-moh-TAH-yoh · ɔˌmɔːˈtɑːjɔː
• Meaning: This child is a source of joy, from ọmọ (‘child’) + t’ayọ̀ (from ayọ̀, ‘joy/happiness’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Etsuko

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ET-soo-koh · ˈɛtsʊkoʊ
• Meaning: joyful child
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ekundayo

• Origin: Yoruba
• Pronunciation: eh-koon-DAH-yoh · eɪkʊnˈdaɪoʊ
• Meaning: sorrow has turned to joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

How These Names Are Trending

56 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 40 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

56 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 40 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

37 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 21 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

38 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 22 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

Choosing the Perfect Uplifting Name

Names meaning joy, peace, and hope carry built-in blessings. They’re the kind of names that feel good to say – and they give your child a positive identity to grow into.

Think about the daily reminder. Every time you call your child’s name, you’re speaking that meaning over them. Joy. Hope. Peace. That’s powerful.

Consider pairing intentionally. These names often work beautifully with classic middle names that add grounding. Truce James. Serenity Rose. Asher William.

Trust your instincts. If a name makes you smile when you say it – if it feels like a wish coming true – that’s the one.

Final Thoughts

In a world that can feel overwhelming, giving your child a name that means joy, peace, or hope is a quiet act of optimism. You’re saying: I believe in good things for you. I believe in brightness ahead.

Whether you choose a classic like Grace, a rising favorite like Truce, or a timeless gem like Beatrice – you’re giving your baby a name that carries real meaning and genuine warmth.

I hope this list helps you find exactly what you’re looking for.

💡 Bringing a name to life? Try our free Baby Name Art generator and create a personalized nursery print in under a minute.

📊 Curious how popular a name actually is? Look it up in our Baby Name Popularity Checker — pulls live SSA data to show ranking trends.

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✨ Love these names? Create free printable nursery art for any name →