Holding steady, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Josanna since 1956
Babies named Josanna per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 28 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 32 |
| 2020s | 17 |
Meaning & origin
Josanna is a rare and modern compound name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1956. It peaked in popularity in 1982, though even then it was never common. With a rank of 13,208 in 2025, the name remains a distinctive choice, used for about 1 in 267,878 girls that year. Its trajectory has been stable, reflecting steady but very low usage. The name blends the familiarity of Josephine and Anna, making it an accessible yet uncommon option.
Josanna is a modern coinage, blending elements from the names Josephine (of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God increases') and Anna (of Hebrew origin, meaning 'grace'). It also closely resembles the French name Josianne, which combines Josette and Anne. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1956, reflecting a mid-century trend of creating compound names from popular traditional elements.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Josie, Jo, Anna, Sanna
Variants: Josianne
Sibling names for Josanna
Names that share Josanna's style, for a brother or sister.
