Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Joanna
GirlLatin, Hebrew· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Latin, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- joh-AN-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #306
- US babies 2025
- 997
- Best rank
- #88 (1984)
- Peak year
- 1984
Meaning and origin of Joanna
Joanna is a Latin and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
Joanna is a feminine form of John, from the Latin Johanna and ultimately the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." In the New Testament, Joanna is one of the women who followed Jesus and one of those who found the empty tomb. The name was used in medieval Europe in several forms, including Joan and Jeanne, and Joanna became a favorite in English-speaking countries in the modern era. It has a graceful, gentle sound and a timeless quality. Jo and Jojo are friendly nicknames, and the name is easy to spell and pronounce.
Popularity over time
Joanna has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #88 in 1984, the same year it reached its highest count of 3,332 babies. In 2025, 997 babies were named Joanna, and it ranked #306 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #554 in 1920, #364 in 1950, #163 in 1980, #238 in 2000, #305 in 2010, and #306 in 2025. Of the 111,761 US girls named Joanna since records began, 20% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 16,287 babies. Since 2010, 17,548 more have been named Joanna.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sheena, Nichole, Desiree, Stefanie, and Krystle.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Joanna ranked highest in Hawaii, Delaware, and Nebraska.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Joanna is usually pronounced joh-AN-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with J and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Joanna
A few middle names that flow with Joanna: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Joanna
Similar names
Johanna Girl
joh-HA-nuh
“Yahweh is gracious” · German
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muh-RY-uh
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Susana Girl
soo-SAH-nuh
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Eliana Girl
eh-lee-AH-nuh
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Maria Girl
muh-REE-uh
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Julianna Girl
joo-lee-AN-uh
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Adrianna Girl
ay-dree-AN-uh
“from Hadria” · Latin
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Sabrina Girl
suh-BREE-nuh
“from the Latin name of the River Severn” · Latin
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Christina Girl
krihs-TEE-nuh
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Serena Girl
suh-REE-nuh
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Hanna Girl
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Regina Girl
rih-JEE-nuh
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Lists that include Joanna
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joanna mean?
Joanna is a Latin and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Joanna?
Joanna has Latin and Hebrew roots. Joanna is a feminine form of John, from the Latin Johanna and ultimately the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." In the New Testament, Joanna is one of the women who followed Jesus and one of those who found the empty tomb.
Is Joanna a popular name?
Yes. Joanna ranked #306 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Joanna a boy or girl name?
Joanna is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Joanna?
Joanna 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