Joanna is an attractive and popular name of Latin origin, meaning "God is gracious." It's derived from the male name Johannes, which has Greek roots and means "gift of God." The feminine form, Joanna, has been widely used since the Middle Ages, particularly in countries with Catholic influences. In English-speaking cultures, it gained prominence during the 19th century and remained popular throughout the 20th century.
The name Joanna is associated with several notable figures throughout history. Saint Joanna, also known as Joanna of Jerusalem or Joanna the Myrrhbearer, was a woman mentioned in the Gospel of Luke who traveled with Jesus and his disciples, supporting them out of her means. She is venerated as a saint in various Christian denominations.
In literature, Joanna is the central character's name in Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre." This has contributed to its popularity in English-speaking countries. Other notable bearers include American actresses like Joanna Going and Joanna Cassidy, British model and TV presenter Joanna Chimonides, and Australian journalist Joanna Griggs.
Joanna can also be found as a surname in various parts of the world, reflecting its long-standing usage. As a given name, it has several variants, such as Jana, Giovanna, Johanna, and Joan. In some languages, like Italian, Spanish, and Polish, there are further variations on the theme: Giovanna, Juana, and Joanna respectively.
In popular culture, Joanna is often used as a character name due to its familiarity and ease of pronunciation in many languages. It has appeared prominently in films like "Joanna" (1968) directed by Mike Sarne, and television series such as "Joannas" (2005), a Norwegian drama about three women named Joanna.
The name Joanna peaked in popularity from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, with a significant spike in births in 1984 and 1985 (21 and 23 respectively). However, it experienced a steady decline thereafter, dropping below 10 births per year after 1993. Recent years show occasional spikes but overall the name's usage has significantly decreased from its peak popularity decades ago.