Declining since 1985, #869 for girls today.
Popularity of Johanna since 1880
Babies named Johanna per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1984, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Johanna's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 864 |
| 1890s | 1,373 |
| 1900s | 1,124 |
| 1910s | 2,542 |
| 1920s | 2,634 |
| 1930s | 2,526 |
| 1940s | 2,789 |
| 1950s | 2,634 |
| 1960s | 3,525 |
| 1970s | 5,177 |
| 1980s | 8,163 |
| 1990s | 6,050 |
| 2000s | 6,790 |
| 2010s | 5,836 |
| 2020s | 2,220 |
Meaning & origin
Johanna has been in consistent use in the United States since records began in 1880. Its peak popularity came early, reaching its highest rank of 1883 in the 1880s decade. In 2025, it ranked 869th, with approximately 1 in 5,202 newborns receiving the name. The name's trajectory has been declining since 1985, though it remains a steady choice. Top states for Johanna include Nebraska, Nevada, and Connecticut, reflecting its widespread but not concentrated appeal. The name's biblical heritage and strong feminine form have ensured its enduring presence across generations. Despite the decline, Johanna continues to be used, a classic name that has never disappeared from the U.S. naming landscape.
Johanna is a feminine form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'. It appears in the New Testament as the name of one of the women who discovered Jesus's empty tomb. The name has been used across Europe, particularly in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian countries, and was introduced to English-speaking world via the Bible.
Where Johanna 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.
“Johanna” around the world
Where Johanna lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
90
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Jojo, Hanna, Anna
Sibling names for Johanna
Names that share Johanna's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Johanna
Names whose popularity has moved with Johanna's over the last 50 years.
