Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Joanne
GirlEnglish, French· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- joh-AN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,630
- US babies 2025
- 66
- Best rank
- #44 (1935)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Joanne
Joanne is an English and French name that means “God is gracious”.
Joanne is an English form of Johanna, the feminine form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning God is gracious. The name developed in medieval France as Johanne and later came into English. It became popular in the twentieth century in the English-speaking world. The actress Joanne Woodward is a well-known bearer. Joanne has a warm, classic sound with stress on the second syllable. Jo and Jojo are natural nicknames. The name has a friendly, familiar character with deep biblical roots.
Other spellings with the same sound: Joann.
Popularity over time
Joanne first appears in US Social Security records in 1888. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 93 different years, starting in 1907. Its best national rank was #44 in 1935, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 6,062 were named Joanne. In 2025, 66 babies were named Joanne, and it ranked #2,630 nationally. That is 33% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #471 in 1920, #67 in 1950, #344 in 1980, #944 in 2000, #1,951 in 2010, and #2,630 in 2025. Of the 211,970 US girls named Joanne since records began, 25% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 51,655 babies. Since 2010, 1,425 more have been named Joanne.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sue, Sally, Elaine, Lynda, and Rosemary.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Joanne ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #1305 | 6 |
| Michigan | #1308 | 5 |
| California | #1889 | 11 |
| Texas | #2295 | 9 |
| Florida | #2306 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Joanne is usually pronounced joh-AN, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with J and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Joann.
Middle names for Joanne
A few middle names that flow with Joanne: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Joanne
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Lists that include Joanne
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joanne mean?
Joanne is an English and French name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Joanne?
Joanne has English, French, and Hebrew roots. Joanne is an English form of Johanna, the feminine form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning God is gracious.
Is Joanne a popular name?
Not especially. Joanne ranked #2,630 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Joanne a boy or girl name?
Joanne is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Joanne?
Joanne is usually pronounced joh-AN. 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