João is of Portuguese origin, derived from the Hebrew name Jehoahnan, meaning "God is gracious." It has been popular in Portugal and Brazil for centuries. In the Portuguese-speaking world, it is often used interchangeably with its Spanish counterpart, Juan. João's popularity can be attributed to historical figures such as João I, a notable king of Portugal during the 14th century. The name João also appears in works by famous Brazilian author Machado de Assis. In English, it is commonly transliterated as John. Notable individuals bearing this name include João Havelange, former president of FIFA, and João Gilberto, a pioneer of bossa nova music.
The name Joao experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with a notable increase in recent years. Between 1918 and 1953, the name remained relatively uncommon, with annual births ranging from 5 to 8. However, starting in 1968, there was a steady rise in popularity, reaching a peak of 76 births in 2020 and 96 births in 2022. Overall, since 1918, the name Joao has been given to a total of 2097 newborns.