Given name & surname
Gianna
“God is gracious”
In Italian use, Gianna is an affectionate form of Giovanna. In Italian use, Giovanna carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Original ItalianGia
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Italian use, Gianna carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” In Italian use, Gianna is an affectionate form of Giovanna. In Italian use, Giovanna carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Italian.
How it developed
Gianna is used as a feminine counterpart of John.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1951. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Italian use, Gianna shares an earlier linguistic root with Jane. The history of Jane gives this family its wider story. Lady Jane Grey is one of the name’s historical bearers. In fiction, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre gave it a lasting nineteenth-century association; the novel appeared in 1847.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Gianna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 110,388
- 73 boys · 110,315 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 7,910 babies
- 2025
- 5,634
- #33 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +50%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5,634 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 33 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 50.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (990). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 64,221 as a first name in 2020; 114 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gianna’s family of names
In Italian usage, Gianna is an affectionate form of Giovanna. Gianna is a feminine form of John. In German usage, Gianna has a related form in Johanna.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Gianna has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Italian roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 18
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 9
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Johnmasculine form
- Janedoublet · English
- Giannimasculine form
- Jiannaequivalent
- Johanneequivalent
- Gannaequivalent
- Giannettaequivalent
- ジョンJapanese
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People named Gianna
- Gianna NanniniItalian singer and songwriter (born 1954)
- Gianna Beretta MollaItalian saint (1922-1962)
- Gianna Maria CanaleItalian actress (1927-2009)
- Gianna Jessenpro-life activist (born 1977)
- Gianna Hablützel-BürkiSwiss épée fencerborn 1969
- Gigi PerezAmerican singer-songwriterborn 2000
- Gianna Terribili-GonzalesItalian actor (1882-1940)
- Gianna D'Angelosinger1929–2013
- Gianna GanciaItalian politicianborn 1972
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Gianna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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