Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Joana
GirlPortuguese, Hebrew· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Portuguese, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- joh-AN-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,596
- US babies 2025
- 67
- Best rank
- #698 (2001)
- Peak year
- 2001
Meaning and origin of Joana
Joana is a Portuguese and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
Joana is the Portuguese and Catalan form of Joanna, the feminine of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, "God is gracious." In the Gospel of Luke, Joanna is one of the women who supported Jesus and later went to his tomb. Joana has a long history in Portugal and Brazil and was borne by Portuguese royalty, including the fifteenth-century princess Joana, who was later beatified. It is soft and melodic, with Jo and Jojo as friendly nicknames, and it carries an easy, graceful sound in English.
Popularity over time
Joana first appears in US Social Security records in 1896. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 12 different years, starting in 1989. Its best national rank was #698 in 2001, the same year it reached its highest count of 357 babies. In 2025, 67 babies were named Joana, and it ranked #2,596 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,994 in 1920, #4,988 in 1950, #1,231 in 1980, #912 in 2000, #1,508 in 2010, and #2,596 in 2025. Of the 7,944 US girls named Joana since records began, 34% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 1,796 babies. Since 2010, 1,353 more have been named Joana.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Beyonce, Sydnie, Shyann, Madisen, and Rosalinda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Joana ranked highest in California, Florida, and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1694 | 13 |
| Florida | #1771 | 7 |
| Texas | #3537 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Joana is usually pronounced joh-AN-uh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with J and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Joana
A few middle names that flow with Joana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Joana
Similar names
Ana Girl
AH-nuh
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Gianna Girl
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Jada Girl
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Joanna Girl
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Lists that include Joana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joana mean?
Joana is a Portuguese and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Joana?
Joana has Portuguese and Hebrew roots. Joana is the Portuguese and Catalan form of Joanna, the feminine of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, "God is gracious." In the Gospel of Luke, Joanna is one of the women who supported Jesus and later went to his tomb.
Is Joana a popular name?
Not especially. Joana ranked #2,596 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Joana a boy or girl name?
Joana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Joana?
Joana is usually pronounced joh-AN-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings