Joanna is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the male name Jonathan. The name Jonathan means "God has heard," and it was first used in the Old Testament of the Bible to refer to the son of Saul who had a close friendship with King David.
The name Joanna became popular in England during the Middle Ages through the influence of French culture, as it was brought over by returning Crusaders. It gained further popularity in English-speaking countries during the Victorian era when many biblical names were fashionable for both boys and girls.
Today, Joanna is still a widely-used name across many different cultures and languages. It is often spelled with a single "n" instead of the double "nn," but both spellings are accepted. The name has also been used as a surname over time.
In addition to its Hebrew origins, Joanna is also associated with other languages and cultures. For example, in Polish, Joanna means "God is gracious." In Italian, it means "the Lord is gracious."
Overall, the name Joanna is of biblical origin but has since become popular across many different cultures and languages due to its beautiful sound and meaning.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Joanna in the United States from 1967 to 2014. Over this period, there were a total of 306 babies named Joanna.
The data reveals that the popularity of the name Joanna fluctuated over time. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the name was given to around 5-7 babies each year. However, it gained significant popularity in the mid-1980s, with a peak of 23 births in 1985.
This trend continued into the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the name being given to around 11-20 babies each year. However, by the mid-1990s, the popularity of the name began to decline once again. Between 1995 and 2004, there were around 5-8 births per year with the name Joanna.
The data shows that the name Joanna was relatively popular in the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but its popularity has since declined. Despite this decline, it remains a unique and timeless name choice for baby girls.