Fun Facts About the Name Jo
- More than 180 thousand babies named Jo: U.S. records list 180,910 babies given the name Jo from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,854 boys received the name Jo - about 1 boy for every 97 girls.
What Does the Name Jo Mean?
Jo is an English given name whose meaning is usually understood as "God is gracious" or "God increases," depending on the longer name it shortens. When it stands for Joanna, Joan, or Joanne, it goes back through Latin Ioanna and Greek Ioanna to Hebrew Yochanan, commonly explained as "Yahweh is gracious" or "the Lord is gracious." When it stands for Josephine, it goes back through French Joséphine to Joseph, from Latin Iosephus and Greek Ioseph, from Hebrew Yosef, usually explained as "he will add" or "may he add," and often interpreted more broadly as "God increases." In both cases Jo is a clipped, familiar form rather than a name with a separate ancient etymology of its own.
Jo Name History & Origins
Jo developed as a short form of longer names in English. Joan, ultimately from Latin Ioanna, was common in medieval England, and its spoken short forms included Jo. Josephine, from French Joséphine, entered English usage by the 19th century, and it too was often shortened to Jo. The spelling without a final e usually marks the feminine form in modern English, while Joe is the usual masculine short form of Joseph; Jo is sometimes used for men as well. In Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868), Jo March is a well-known fictional bearer of the name, and in Charles Dickens's Bleak House (1852 - 53), Jo is a crossing sweeper. Those literary uses reflect existing short forms of Josephine, Joanna, and Joseph rather than being the source of the name. In Dutch, Jo is also used as a given name, often as a short form of Johannes, Johanna, or Jozef, with the meaning again depending on the longer name.
How Popular is the Name Jo?
Jo recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1954. Jo entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 1933.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,028 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #4,314 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2023 | #3,397 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 2022 | #4,071 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2021 | #3,639 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 2020 | #4,045 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2019 | #4,208 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2018 | #3,758 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 2017 | #3,806 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2016 | #4,296 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2015 | #5,043 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2014 | #6,841 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #7,950 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #6,984 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #8,393 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #15,875 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #7,184 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #7,556 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #7,234 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #5,452 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2005 | #6,975 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #6,616 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #4,467 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2002 | #4,329 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2001 | #4,372 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2000 | #4,870 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #2,956 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1998 | #2,630 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 1997 | #2,317 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 1996 | #2,775 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1995 | #2,293 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 1994 | #2,132 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1993 | #2,201 | 60 | 0.0033% |
| 1992 | #1,973 | 70 | 0.0038% |
| 1991 | #1,922 | 73 | 0.0039% |
| 1990 | #1,725 | 85 | 0.0045% |
| 1989 | #1,578 | 89 | 0.0048% |
| 1988 | #1,306 | 111 | 0.0062% |
| 1987 | #1,130 | 132 | 0.0076% |
| 1986 | #1,251 | 109 | 0.0064% |
| 1985 | #926 | 171 | 0.0099% |
| 1984 | #769 | 210 | 0.0125% |
| 1983 | #771 | 207 | 0.0124% |
| 1982 | #665 | 267 | 0.0158% |
| 1981 | #547 | 340 | 0.0204% |
| 1980 | #540 | 349 | 0.0210% |
| 1979 | #589 | 306 | 0.0191% |
| 1978 | #549 | 323 | 0.0211% |
| 1977 | #509 | 365 | 0.0238% |
| 1976 | #461 | 417 | 0.0285% |
| 1975 | #392 | 520 | 0.0357% |
| 1974 | #366 | 587 | 0.0400% |
| 1973 | #332 | 665 | 0.0456% |
| 1972 | #325 | 722 | 0.0475% |
| 1971 | #302 | 910 | 0.0547% |
| 1970 | #272 | 1,103 | 0.0631% |
| 1969 | #251 | 1,164 | 0.0690% |
| 1968 | #226 | 1,325 | 0.0808% |
| 1967 | #214 | 1,409 | 0.0853% |
| 1966 | #200 | 1,591 | 0.0940% |
| 1965 | #183 | 1,851 | 0.1049% |
| 1964 | #184 | 2,052 | 0.1083% |
| 1963 | #177 | 2,189 | 0.1136% |
| 1962 | #167 | 2,449 | 0.1245% |
| 1961 | #152 | 2,794 | 0.1384% |
| 1960 | #134 | 3,371 | 0.1667% |
| 1959 | #115 | 4,054 | 0.2003% |
| 1958 | #91 | 5,226 | 0.2598% |
| 1957 | #83 | 5,717 | 0.2796% |
| 1956 | #69 | 6,954 | 0.3464% |
| 1955 | #58 | 7,656 | 0.3916% |
| 1954 | #53 | 8,052 | 0.4146% |
| 1953 | #54 | 7,513 | 0.3993% |
| 1952 | #55 | 7,092 | 0.3825% |
| 1951 | #67 | 6,001 | 0.3332% |
| 1950 | #64 | 5,676 | 0.3313% |
| 1949 | #60 | 5,802 | 0.3391% |
| 1948 | #56 | 5,986 | 0.3526% |
| 1947 | #51 | 6,724 | 0.3793% |
| 1946 | #53 | 5,828 | 0.3709% |
| 1945 | #60 | 4,224 | 0.3232% |
| 1944 | #61 | 4,226 | 0.3184% |
| 1943 | #63 | 4,300 | 0.3082% |
| 1942 | #65 | 4,175 | 0.3091% |
| 1941 | #66 | 3,757 | 0.3110% |
| 1940 | #72 | 3,427 | 0.2997% |
| 1939 | #70 | 3,524 | 0.3214% |
| 1938 | #78 | 3,172 | 0.2875% |
| 1937 | #73 | 3,226 | 0.3032% |
| 1936 | #72 | 3,292 | 0.3164% |
| 1935 | #73 | 3,296 | 0.3143% |
| 1934 | #75 | 3,257 | 0.3119% |
| 1933 | #90 | 2,541 | 0.2521% |
| 1932 | #103 | 2,388 | 0.2238% |
| 1931 | #116 | 2,086 | 0.1959% |
| 1930 | #131 | 1,871 | 0.1662% |
| 1929 | #140 | 1,593 | 0.1427% |
| 1928 | #179 | 1,168 | 0.1013% |
| 1927 | #203 | 974 | 0.0817% |
| 1926 | #222 | 815 | 0.0688% |
| 1925 | #264 | 635 | 0.0522% |
| 1924 | #285 | 534 | 0.0428% |
| 1923 | #334 | 385 | 0.0319% |
| 1922 | #376 | 302 | 0.0251% |
| 1921 | #417 | 259 | 0.0210% |
| 1920 | #444 | 231 | 0.0193% |
| 1919 | #437 | 227 | 0.0201% |
| 1918 | #479 | 199 | 0.0172% |
| 1917 | #563 | 145 | 0.0134% |
| 1916 | #539 | 152 | 0.0146% |
| 1915 | #571 | 128 | 0.0130% |
| 1914 | #550 | 103 | 0.0135% |
| 1913 | #538 | 89 | 0.0143% |
| 1912 | #593 | 68 | 0.0122% |
| 1911 | #680 | 41 | 0.0098% |
| 1910 | #676 | 40 | 0.0101% |
| 1909 | #610 | 41 | 0.0118% |
| 1908 | #548 | 46 | 0.0138% |
| 1907 | #660 | 33 | 0.0104% |
| 1906 | #619 | 34 | 0.0115% |
| 1905 | #606 | 34 | 0.0117% |
| 1904 | #692 | 26 | 0.0094% |
| 1903 | #617 | 29 | 0.0111% |
| 1902 | #678 | 25 | 0.0095% |
| 1901 | #754 | 19 | 0.0079% |
| 1900 | #753 | 24 | 0.0080% |
| 1899 | #801 | 17 | 0.0073% |
| 1898 | #830 | 17 | 0.0066% |
| 1897 | #811 | 16 | 0.0068% |
| 1896 | #715 | 20 | 0.0084% |
| 1895 | #1,017 | 11 | 0.0047% |
| 1894 | #802 | 15 | 0.0067% |
| 1893 | #1,048 | 9 | 0.0042% |
| 1892 | #846 | 13 | 0.0061% |
| 1891 | #710 | 15 | 0.0081% |
| 1890 | #1,146 | 7 | 0.0037% |
| 1889 | #824 | 11 | 0.0062% |
| 1888 | #1,084 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1887 | #1,222 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1886 | #621 | 14 | 0.0097% |
| 1885 | #676 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1884 | #888 | 7 | 0.0054% |
| 1883 | #669 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1881 | #881 | 5 | 0.0054% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,273 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #7,449 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #8,551 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #9,086 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #11,418 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #8,470 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #10,176 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #11,373 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #7,274 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #11,493 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #10,172 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,420 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #6,844 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #10,082 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #7,840 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #6,469 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #5,892 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #7,896 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #5,166 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #6,255 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #7,174 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #9,972 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #6,783 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #8,280 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #9,501 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #5,968 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #5,047 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #5,723 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #7,578 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #4,152 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #7,843 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #2,886 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #5,612 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #2,463 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1984 | #3,185 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #2,450 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #2,553 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #2,535 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1980 | #2,786 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #2,636 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1978 | #2,245 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #2,509 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1976 | #3,010 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #2,990 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #3,436 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #2,446 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #2,117 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,012 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1970 | #1,677 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #1,836 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1968 | #2,990 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #2,293 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,003 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1965 | #2,415 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #1,677 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #1,769 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1962 | #1,462 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1961 | #1,762 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #1,247 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1959 | #1,540 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1958 | #1,802 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #1,306 | 36 | 0.0017% |
| 1956 | #1,430 | 30 | 0.0014% |
| 1955 | #1,326 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #1,543 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #1,567 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #1,281 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1951 | #1,540 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #1,303 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1949 | #1,331 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1948 | #1,240 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1947 | #1,349 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1946 | #1,719 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #1,173 | 32 | 0.0024% |
| 1944 | #1,507 | 21 | 0.0015% |
| 1943 | #1,249 | 31 | 0.0022% |
| 1942 | #1,513 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,178 | 32 | 0.0026% |
| 1940 | #1,420 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1939 | #1,476 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1938 | #1,261 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1937 | #1,250 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1936 | #1,438 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1935 | #1,132 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1934 | #1,183 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1933 | #1,346 | 25 | 0.0025% |
| 1932 | #1,752 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1931 | #1,182 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1930 | #1,206 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1929 | #1,398 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1928 | #1,673 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1927 | #1,989 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1926 | #2,492 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #2,261 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,409 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1923 | #2,280 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1922 | #2,411 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #3,105 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1920 | #1,528 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1919 | #2,588 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,115 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #3,393 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1916 | #2,468 | 11 | 0.0012% |
| 1915 | #2,538 | 10 | 0.0012% |
| 1914 | #3,504 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #2,018 | 9 | 0.0018% |
| 1911 | #1,638 | 6 | 0.0027% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Jo Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Jo's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jo's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.