Joan is a name of Spanish and Catalan origin, derived from the Hebrew name Johanan, which means "God is gracious." The name was introduced to England in the Middle Ages by returning Crusaders, who were influenced by the Spanish form of the name.
The name Joan has been used historically for both boys and girls, although it has become more commonly associated with females in recent times. One famous bearer of the name is Joan of Arc, a heroine from France during the Hundred Years' War. She was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920.
In literature, Joan appears as a character in works such as "Joan of Arc" by Mark Twain and "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. Additionally, the name has been used by several notable individuals throughout history, including Joan of Kent, who was the mother of King Richard II of England, and Joan Crawford, an American actress known for her roles in films such as "Mildred Pierce."
Overall, the name Joan is a classic choice with a rich history and a meaning that conveys positivity and grace. Despite its historical usage for both genders, it has become more commonly associated with females today.
The name Joan has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past century and a half, with a total of 480,821 babies named Joan being born since 1880.
Looking at the statistics year by year, we can see that the popularity of the name Joan has fluctuated greatly over time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of babies named Joan ranged from a low of just 6 births in 1881 to a high of 32 births in 1892.
However, beginning around the turn of the century, we start to see a significant increase in the popularity of the name Joan. By 1905, there were 104 babies named Joan born in the United States, and by 1910, that number had more than doubled to 196 births.
The years from 1920 to 1930 saw a dramatic rise in the popularity of the name Joan, with over 57,000 babies named Joan being born during this decade alone. The peak of Joan's popularity came in 1929, when there were 11,666 births.
However, after reaching its zenith in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the popularity of the name Joan began to decline steadily over the following decades. By the 1970s, fewer than 500 babies were being named Joan each year, and this trend has continued into the present day.
Despite its decline in popularity, the name Joan remains a classic choice for parents looking for a timeless and elegant name for their daughter. According to the latest data from the Social Security Administration, there were 163 babies named Joan born in the United States in 2023, demonstrating that while the name may not be as popular as it once was, it is still beloved by many parents.