Given name
Joah
“dove”
Joah is a variant of Jonah. One Hebrew interpretation is “dove.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Joah is a variant of Jonah. One Hebrew interpretation is “dove.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Joah is a variant of Jonah. An origin associated with Jonah is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1977. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Joah is a variant of Jonah. The history of Jonah gives this family its wider story. In biblical tradition, Jonah is the name of a prophet.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Joah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,246
- 1,241 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 79 babies
- 2025
- 79
- #2,028 for boys · #15,965 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +36%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 74 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,028 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 34.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 5 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Florida and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (11 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 972 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.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Joah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gianni
“God is gracious”
80% boys · 20% girls
Eithan
“firmness” · “long-lived”
>99% boys
Tahan
“encampment”
>99% boys
Nethaniah
“Yah has given”
>99% boys
Abiezer
“my father is help” · “father of help”
>99% boys
Jakhari
97% boys · 3% girls
Jasir
“one who is fearless”
>99% boys
Jasiah
Jasiah is a masculine given name.
97% boys · 3% girls