The Best Baby Names that Mean Happiness & Joy

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Choose a cheerful name that matches your little one’s positive spirit

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: November 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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• For Boys
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• For Girls
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• Gender-neutral
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• More Names

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If you’re expecting a bundle of joy, choosing a name for your little one that means “happy” or “happiness” is the perfect way to celebrate their arrival and match the sunshine and optimism they’re sure to bring into the world. In this article, we’ve compiled the best masculine, feminine, and gender-neutral names that mean “happy,” with help from naming consultant and childhood expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson. Keep reading to find the perfect name!

Baby Names Meaning Happy

Naming consultant and childhood expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson suggests choosing a name that means “happy” or has a joyful vibe, like Eden, Joy, Lettie, Sunny, Pax, or Winnie. Other great options that mean “happiness” include:

• For boys: Felix, Isaac, Makari, Naeem, Zorion
• For girls: Abigail, Alaïa, Farah, Hana, Kalea
• Gender-neutral: Asher, Blythe, Gale, Merry, Tate

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Section 1 of 4:

Boy Names that Mean “Happy”

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1. 
   There are lots of masculine names that mean “happy” or “joy.” These cheerful options are a sweet way to welcome a baby boy and inspire him to always look on the bright side of things. For instance:

   • Anand: “Happiness or joy,” Sanskrit origin.
   • Asaad: “Happier” or “luckier,” Arabic origin.
   • Felix: “Happy” or “lucky,” Latin origin.
   • Fortunato: “Happy” or “lucky,” Latin origin.
   • Gaius: “To rejoice,” Latin origin.
   • Gil: “Happiness or joy,” Hebrew origin.
   • Harshad: “Bringer of joy,” Indian origin.
   • Isaac: “One who laughs or rejoices,” Hebrew origin.
   • Koji: “Happiness” or “good fortune,” Japanese origin.
   • Makari: “Happy” or “blessed,” Greek origin.
   • Naeem: “Happiness” or “comfort,” Arabic origin.
   • Rhys: “Enthusiasm” or “passion,” Welsh origin.
   • Ron: “Joy,” Hebrew origin.
   • Said: “Happy,” “joy,” or “blessed,” Arabic origin.
   • Selig: “Happy in life” or “blessed,” Yiddish origin.
   • Yoshiro: “Happy individual,” Japanese origin.
   • Zorion: “Happy,” Basque/Portuguese origin.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming consultant and childhood expert. She shares name meanings and naming tips with her over 20k followers on her Instagram, @little_name_library.
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Section 2 of 4:

Girl Names that Mean “Happy”

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1. 
   There are plenty of beautiful girl names that relate to happiness and cheer. For instance, Dr. Wilson says, “Names like Eden, Grace, Joy,… and Clara often feel comforting because they’re soft-sounding and emotionally grounded.” She especially adores the name Lettie (a diminutive of Letitia), which has Spanish roots and means “joy and gladness.” Other names include:

   • Abigail: “My father’s joy,” Hebrew origin.
   • Alaïa: “Joyful, happy,” Basque origin.
   • Alisa: “Great happiness” or “joy,” Hebrew origin.
   • Allegra: “Joyful” or “lively,” Italian origin.
   • Bonnie: “Cheerful” or “beautiful,” Scottish origin.
   • Clara: “Bright,” Latin origin.
   • Eden: “Delight,” Hebrew origin.
   • Elvira: “Happy truth,” German origin.
   • Farah: “Happiness” or “delight,” Arabic origin.
   • Felicia: “Happy” or “lucky,” Latin origin.
   • Felicity: “Happiness,” English origin.
   • Grace: “Blessing,” Latin origin.
   • Hana: “Happiness” or “flower,” Spanish origin.
   • Hillary: “Happy” or “cheerful,” Latin origin.
   • Joy: “Happiness,” Latin origin.
   • Kalea: “Joy or happiness,” Hawaiian origin.
   • Leda: “Joy” or “woman,” Greek origin.
   • Lettie/Letitia: “Joy” or “gladness,” Spanish and Latin origin.
   • Miyuki: “Beautiful happiness,” Japanese origin.
   • Naomi: “Pleasant,” Hebrew origin.
   • Rena: “Joy” or “melody,” Hebrew origin.
   • Sachiko: “Happiness” or “child of bliss,” Japanese origin.
   • Zella: “Happy” or “blessed,” Yiddish origin.

Section 3 of 4:

Gender-neutral Names that Mean “Happy”

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1. 
   There are plenty of names that mean “happy” or “joyful” that aren’t traditionally masculine or feminine. In particular, Dr. Wilson says names like “Sunny, Pax, or Winnie give a sense of joy and warmth in a way that’s gentle and immediate.” Check out some of these other great gender-neutral options:

   • Asher: “Happy,” “blessed,” or “ash tree,” Hebrew origin.
   • Ayo: “Joy,” Nigerian origin.
   • Bliss: “Perfect joy” or “cheerful,” English origin.
   • Blythe: “Happy” or “cheerful,” English origin.
   • Cai: “Happy” or “rejoice,” Latin origin.
   • Dechen: “Great happiness,” Tibetan origin.
   • Gale: “Joy” or “wind,” English origin.
   • Huan: “Happy,” Chinese origin.
   • Joyce: “Joyous,” Latin origin.
   • Merry: “Jolly” or “cheerful,” English origin.
   • Pax: “Peace,” Latin origin.
   • Sunny: “Sunshine” or “happy,” English origin.
   • Tate: “Cheerful,” English origin.
   • Winnie: “Joyful friend” or “friend of peace,” Welsh origin.
   • Yijun: “Joy” or “harmony,” Chinese origin.
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Section 4 of 4:

More Joyful Name Ideas

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1. Looking for more names that have joyful and positive meanings? We’ve got you covered! Check out these lists, which are full of other beautiful names for boys and girls, as well as gender-neutral options:

   • Names that Mean Hope
   • Names that Mean Peace
   • Names that Mean Beautiful
   • Names that Mean Gift from God
   • Irish Names that Mean Blessed
   • Names that Mean Angel
   • Names that Mean Life
   • Names that Mean Light
   • Names that Mean Protect
   • Names that Mean Sun
   • Names that Mean Flower
   • Names that Mean Gold

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