The nameJoanna
Joanna is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious". A feminine form of John, it appears in the Gospel of Luke.
- Girl's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
Joanna comes from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious", through the Greek Ioanna.
Origin
Hebrew. In the Gospel of Luke, Joanna is one of the women who discover the empty tomb.
History
Joanna was popular in the United States and Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, reaching the American top 90.
Did you know?
- Joanna Lumley played Patsy Stone, Edina's outrageous friend, in Absolutely Fabulous.
Famous people named Joanna
- Joanna Lumley, actress
- Joanna Trollope, novelist
- Joanna Newsom, musician
Popularity of the name Joanna
Joanna in the United States
Joanna was most popular in the United States in the 1980s, with 22,370 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Joanna. Its rise began around 1930, and it peaked in 1984. Half of all babies named Joanna in the United States were born before 1985, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,028 births a year on average, against 1,285 in the five years before.
Joanna in the United Kingdom
Joanna was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 1,614 births over the decade, 37% of all recorded babies named Joanna. Half of all babies named Joanna in the United Kingdom were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 83 births a year on average, against 115 in the five years before.
Joanna in Ireland
Joanna in France
Joanna in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Joanna
Names from the same generation as Joanna, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Joanna? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Joanna with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Joanna side by side with the name of your choice.
Joanna in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joanna mean?
Joanna comes from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious", through the Greek Ioanna.
What is the origin of the name Joanna?
Hebrew. In the Gospel of Luke, Joanna is one of the women who discover the empty tomb.
Is Joanna a girl's or a boy's name?
Joanna is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Joanna?
In 2024, Joanna was the 329th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 942 births.
What are the variants of the name Joanna?
Variants and related names of Joanna include Jeanne and Joana.
What are good sibling names for Joanna?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Miriam, Marie, Madeleine and Talia for a sister, Rafael, Simon, Sam and Abraham for a brother.
Who are famous people named Joanna?
Joanna Lumley, actress; Joanna Trollope, novelist; Joanna Newsom, musician.