Joanne is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious." It is a feminine form of John, which was derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. This name gained popularity during the Middle Ages when it was often used as a diminutive of Joan, which itself was a pet form of Johanna. In literature, notable Joannes include American poet Joanne Kathleen Kane, better known by her pen name J.K. Rowling, and French-Canadian novelist Joanne Huff-Friesen, whose works explore themes of identity and belonging. The name Joanne has also been popular among royals; Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, was named after her father's maternal grandmother, Queen Anne.
The name Joanne saw its peak popularity between 1932 and 1937 with the highest number of births recorded at 22 in 1937. After this period, the annual births gradually decreased until they reached a low point of 5 births in both 1990 and 1996. Over time, the name Joanne was given to a total of 504 babies born between 1928 and 1996.