Given name & surname
Joann
“God is gracious”
Joann is a variant of Joan. In Hebrew use, Joan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Joann is a variant of Joan. In Hebrew use, Joan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Joann is a variant of Joanne. An origin associated with Joanne is Old French.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1891. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Joann through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 157,456
- 564 boys · 156,892 girls
- Most popular year
- 1942
- 4,518 babies
- 2025
- 54
- #3,049 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 54 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,049 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 4,506 in 1942. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 149,035 as a first name in 2020; 115 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.
Joann’s family of names
Joann has a related form in Joan. In English usage, Joann has a related form in Joanne. In English usage, Joann has a conventional equivalent in the Czech form Johana.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Joann
- Joann SfarFrench comics artist, graphic novelist, and film directorborn 1971
- Joann LõssovEstonian basketball player, coach and sports pedagogue (1921–2000)
- JoAnn H. MorganAmerican aerospace engineerborn 1940
- Joann FletcherBritish egyptologistborn 1966
- JoAnn FallettaAmerican conductorborn 1954
- JoAnn E. MansonAmerican endocrinologist and epidemiologistborn 1953
- Joann VenutoCzech clergyman and painter (1746–1833)
- Joann YamazakiJapanese voice actor and singerborn 1992
- Joann AalfsWomen's rights activist1923–2021
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Joann, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jeanne
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Janey
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Jeanette
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Jerilyn
“one who rules with the spear”
>99% girls
Joyce
“lord” · “one who brings joy to others”
2% boys · 98% girls
Janie
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Maryann
Maryann is a feminine given name from Hebrew.
>99% girls
Carolynn
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls