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 was quite popular throughout the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries, with a significant peak occurring between the 1920s and the early 1950s. During this period, the number of annual births with the name Joan reached its zenith, ranging from over 2,000 in some years (such as 1928, with 7,854 births) to well above 3,000 in others (like 1931 and 1932, with 21,044 and 19,294 births respectively).
However, the popularity of the name Joan began to decline notably after the mid-1950s. By the late 1960s, annual births had fallen below 2,000, and this trend continued throughout the following decades. In recent years, the name has been given to fewer than 200 babies per year on average.
Overall, from 1880 to 2023, the name Joan was bestowed upon a total of 480,821 newborns in the United States.