Given name & surname
Joanna
“God is gracious”
In English use, Joanna has a related form in Siobhan. In Irish use, Siobhan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Original GreekΤζοάννα
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Joanna has a related form in Siobhan. In Irish use, Siobhan carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
Joanna is a feminine form of John.
The story
Joanna was in use during the Middle Ages.
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Joanna appears in Luke 8:3.
From biblical name research
Joanna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 112,067
- 306 boys · 111,761 girls
- Most popular year
- 1984
- 3,353 babies
- 2025
- 997
- #306 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −24%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 997 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 306 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,332 in 1984. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (109). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 104,730 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.
Joanna’s family of names
Joanna has a short form in Jo. Joanna is a feminine form of John. Joanna has a related form in Joan.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Joanna has relatives in 21 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
50 related names in 21 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 19
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Joanvariant · English
- Johannavariant · English, German
- Juanavariant · English, Spanish
- Siobhanvariant · English
- Asiadiminutive · Polish
- Joannevariant · English
- Joanavariant · Portuguese, Basque
- Juanitavariant · English
Show 11 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 45
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- ΤζοάνναGreek
- ΙωάνναGreek
- Johnmasculine form
- Janedoublet · English
- Shanedoublet · English
- Jennaequivalent
- Shawndoublet · English
- GiovannaItalian
Show 37 moreShow fewer
- Jeandoublet · English
- Ivanadoublet · English
- Janadoublet · English, Czech
- Jannaequivalent
- Shaundoublet · English
- Johanasee also · Czech, Esperanto
- Yanaequivalent
- Janicedoublet · English
- Siandoublet · English
- Jeannedoublet · French, English
- Sheenadoublet · English
- Shaunadoublet · English
- JonnaSwedish
- Hannieequivalent
- Janisdoublet · English
- Shawnadoublet · English
- Yoannaequivalent
- XoanaGalician
- Hanneloreequivalent
- Zhannadoublet · English
- JoneBasque
- JoaneBasque
- Shavonnedoublet · English
- Jendoublet · English
- Siwanequivalent
- Jóhannaequivalent
- Јоанаequivalent
- Иванаequivalent
- Hoanaequivalent
- Jauaanequivalent
- ДжоаннаRussian
- ИоаннаRussian
- ЖаннаRussian
- Ἰωάνναgr
- Iohannaalso known as · Latin
- UjuaannaGreenlandic
- JuaannaGreenlandic
See also 20
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Joanna
- Joanna of CastileQueen of Castile from 1504 and of Aragon from 15161479–1555
- JoJoAmerican singer and actressborn 1990
- Joanna LumleyBritish actress and former modelborn 1946
- Joanna NewsomAmerican musician (b. 1982)
- Joanna CassidyAmerican actressborn 1944
- Joanna la BeltranejaCastillian infanta and queen, queen consort of Portugal1462–1530
- Joanna RussAmerican author (1937-2011)
- JoAnna Garcia SwisherAmerican actress and businesswoman (born 1979)
- Joanna of Austria, Grand Duchess of TuscanyAustrian Archduchess, mother of Maria de' Medici (1547-1578)
Characters named Joanna: Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Joanna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Vanessa
“resembling a butterfly”
>99% girls
Andrea
“manliness”
1% boys · 99% girls
Katrina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Melissa
“bee, honey, or honeybee”
>99% girls
Nicole
“of the victorious people”
>99% girls
Cassandra
“an unheeded prophetess”
>99% girls
Monica
“a solitary woman” · “one who advises others”
>99% girls
Tiffany
“manifestation of God”
>99% girls