Declining since 2002, #2,583 for girls today.
Popularity of Joana since 1896
Babies named Joana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 14 |
| 1920s | 51 |
| 1930s | 96 |
| 1940s | 91 |
| 1950s | 121 |
| 1960s | 174 |
| 1970s | 350 |
| 1980s | 1,228 |
| 1990s | 1,796 |
| 2000s | 2,665 |
| 2010s | 947 |
| 2020s | 406 |
Meaning & origin
Joana, a name with deep roots in the Christian tradition, offers a melodic alternative to the more common Joanna. First recorded in U.S. data in 1896, it reached its peak rank in 2001, but has since experienced a steady decline, dropping to rank 2,583 by 2025. Currently, it is given to about 1 in every 23,989 baby girls, reflecting its niche but enduring appeal. The name is most popular in states with large Portuguese-speaking populations, such as Florida, California, and Texas. While its trajectory has been falling since 2002, Joana retains a classic charm for parents seeking a name with spiritual resonance and cross-cultural familiarity.
Joana is a feminine given name, the Portuguese, Galician, Catalan and Occitan form of Johanna, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'Yahweh is gracious.' The name Joanna appears in the New Testament as a woman who accompanied Jesus. The form Joana became common in the Iberian Peninsula and spread to Portuguese-speaking countries, including Brazil, where it has been used since the colonial period. Its popularity peaked in the early 2000s.
Where Joana is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Joana” around the world
Where Joana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
85
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Jô, Ju, Nana
Sibling names for Joana
Names that share Joana's style, for a brother or sister.
