Given name & surname
Giovanna
“God is gracious”
Giovanna is a feminine form of Giovanni. In Italian use, Giovanni carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Original ItalianNanna
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Italian use, Giovanna carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” Giovanna is a feminine form of Giovanni. In Italian use, Giovanni 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
Giovanna is used as a feminine counterpart of John.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1904. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Italian use, Giovanna 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
Giovanna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 14,135
- 0 boys · 14,135 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 408 babies
- 2025
- 304
- #878 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −13%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 304 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 878 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 13.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 408 in 2005. In 2025, New Jersey had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (31). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 15,383 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Giovanna’s family of names
In Italian usage, Giovanna has an affectionate form in Gianna. Giovanna is a feminine form of John. In Italian usage, Giovanna has a conventional equivalent in the French form Jeanne.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Giovanna has relatives in 8 languages. Lines run from its Italian roots to each of them.
Italianwhere Giovanna comes from · 5 names
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 18
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Giovanna
- Giovanna AntonelliBrazilian actressborn 1976
- Giovanna of SavoyBulgarian and Italian Royal1907–2000
- Gianna Beretta MollaItalian saint (1922-1962)
- Giovanna Amatiracecar driverborn 1959
- Giovanna MezzogiornoItalian actressborn 1974
- Vannozza dei CattaneiItalian noble1442–1518
- Giovanna Trillinifencerborn 1970
- Joan of the TowerQueen of Scotland1321–1362
- Suso Cecchi d'AmicoItalian screenwriter (1914–2010)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Giovanna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mireya
“one who is worthy of admiration”
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Bianca
“a shining, fair-skinned woman”
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Sophie
“having great wisdom and foresight”
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Juliet
“one who is youthful; daughter of the sky”
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Sylvie
Sylvie is used as a given name and a surname. Sylvie is connected with Silvia.
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Neneca
“one who is industrious and hardworking”
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Janelle
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Johana
Johana is used as a given name. Johana is connected with Joanna.
>99% girls