Joan

Updated: October 5, 2023 by Olivia Mittak

Joan is an old-fashioned-sounding name and one of the female alternatives to John. It is simple, but you can feel the power behind the title. It was one of the quintessential names of the early twentieth century. Joan remains on the top 3,000 list for girls.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Joan:

Joan originated as the Medieval version of Johanne in England. Johanne was the Old French form of Iohanna, the same name that formed Joanna. Joan was the first English alternative to John for girls, but Jane became more popular in the 1600s. Joan came back in the early twentieth century, but dwindled again within a few decades. The name shares its meaning with John: “God is gracious”.

Symbolism of the Name Joan:

Joan originated as the English form of Johanna, giving it the same meaning. It dates back to Iohanna, which is the English and French versions of Ioanna. Ioanna is the feminine form of Ioannes, which helped to form the name John. Both John and Joan translate to “God is gracious”.

Nicknames for the Name Joan:

Joan doesn't have as many nicknames associated with it as longer names, but there are still many options to choose from. Here are some great nicknames for someone named Joan:

Jo
Jojo
Joani
Joanie
Joni
Joany
JJ
Jay
Joey
Joze
O
Joansie
Ans
Anzie

Style of the Name Joan:

Traditional

Gender of the Name Joan:

Joan is an old-fashioned name for girls.

Pronunciation of the Name Joan:

JON

Number of Syllables in the Name Joan:

One

Emotion Evoked From the Name Joan:

Joan feels simple and powerful. It is a refined and mature baby name.

Alternative Spellings for the Name Joan:

Joann

Popularity of the Name Joan:

Joan was first a top 1,000 baby name in America in 1929 at rank 910. It remained on the top 1,000 list until 1944, not coming back until 2000 at rank 911. Joan remained on the list until 2007 at number 913. As of this year, Joan is only a top 2,900 option for girls at rank 2,818.