Ioanna is a feminine Greek name derived from the male name Ioannes or Johannes, which ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan. The name means "God is gracious" or "God has been merciful."
The name Ioanna has been used in Greece since ancient times and was popular among early Christians who adopted names with religious significance. It is believed that this name was chosen for Saint Ioanna, a companion of John the Baptist whose feast day is celebrated on May 27th.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried this name. One example is Ioanna Komnene, a Byzantine princess and historian who lived in the 11th century. She wrote an autobiographical work called "The Alexiad," which chronicles the reign of her father, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.
In literature, Ioanna appears as a character in the novel "Doctor Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak. The protagonist, Yuri Zhivago, has an affair with a woman named Lara, whose full name is Ioanna Larissa Antiipova.
Today, Ioanna remains popular among Greek families and has gained international recognition due to its unique sound and rich history. It is often spelled in various ways such as Ioanna, Joanna, or Joan, but regardless of the spelling, this beautiful name continues to represent grace and mercy.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Ioanna in the United States from 1972 to 2022. Over this period, there were a total of 559 babies named Ioanna born in the US.
From these statistics, we can observe several trends:
* The highest number of births occurred in recent years: 23 births in 2016 and 23 births in 2022.
* The name gained popularity over time, with fewer than 15 births per year from 1972 to 1982, but more than 15 births per year since 2000.
* There were several years where the number of births was quite low: less than 5 births occurred between 1991 and 1999, as well as in 2017 and 2020.
Overall, while Ioanna may not have been one of the most popular names in terms of the total number of births, it has maintained a consistent presence in the United States over several decades.