As proper nouns the difference between joe and tom
is that
joe is a common nickname for Joseph, also used as a formal male given name while
Tom is a diminutive=Thomas given name, also used as a formal male given name.
As nouns the difference between joe and tom
is that
joe is a male; a guy; a fellow while
tom is the male of the domesticated cat.
As a verb tom is
to act in an obsequiously servile manner toward white authority.