Joanna
/dʒoʊˈænə/noun
A feminine given name, from the Greek form of Hebrew Yohanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.”
Did you know?Joanna ultimately comes from the same Hebrew root as John, so the name has crossed languages and empires while keeping its original message of divine grace.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
Yôḥānān
““Yahweh is gracious” or “God has shown favor.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
Iōanna
“A Greek female form of the Hebrew name, used in early Christian texts.”
Latin
Latin
Ioanna
“Latinized feminine personal name in Christian tradition.”
Old French
Old French
Johanne
“A medieval female given name, influenced by Christian naming traditions.”
Middle English
English
Joanna
“A feminine given name established in English through biblical and medieval use.”