Joli
Joli was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1969, when it ranked 2074th with 37 babies. More babies were named Joli in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Jolie) pretty (French) · French
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 196937 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,155babies recorded
What does the name Joli mean?
Joli is a spelling of Jolie, pronounced the same way, so it shares Jolie's meaning and origin.
Jolie is the French word jolie, the feminine form of joli 'pretty, nice'. The adjective comes from Old French jolif 'merry, festive', whose earlier origin is uncertain; one suggestion links it to Old Norse jól, the Yule midwinter feast. As a girls' name in the US it appears from the 1940s and is associated with the actress Angelina Jolie, whose surname is a stage name.
jolie (French, “pretty (feminine)”)jolif (Old French, “merry, festive”)
How sure is this? Well established. The meaning 'pretty' is clear; the deeper origin of Old French jolif is uncertain.
Related names: Joli, Jolee, Joely.
See also: French names, names that mean beautiful.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jolie', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'joli' (French section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (our computation), SSA (public domain)
Joli popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #10,655 | 9 |
| 2010 | #6,491 | 20 |
| 2000 | #4,871 | 24 |
| 1990 | #6,629 | 13 |
| 1980 | #4,053 | 19 |
| 1970 | #2,543 | 29 |
| 1960 | #2,683 | 21 |
| 1950 | #4,992 | 6 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Joli, counting every spelling?
Joli is a spelling of Jolie, a name family that ranked #842 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 313 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Joli?
About 1,100 people born in the US named Joli are alive today, with a median age of 41; half are between 22 and 56. That makes Joli mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Joli by state
How common Joli was among girls born in each state in 1967–1971, around its peak. In 50 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Joli: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Joli, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Joli
What does Joli mean?
Joli is a spelling of Jolie, which means “pretty (French)” (French origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Joli?
Joli was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1969, when it ranked 2074th with 37 babies. More babies were named Joli in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Joli a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Joli in the US.
Where was Joli most popular?
In 1967–1971, Joli was most common in California (0.01 per 1,000 girls).