Fun Facts About the Name Joan
- An established favorite: Joan held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 41 consecutive years, from 1924 through 1964.
- More than 488 thousand babies named Joan: U.S. records list 488,939 babies given the name Joan from 1880 through 2025. Even 7,701 boys received the name Joan - about 1 boy for every 62 girls.
What Does the Name Joan Mean?
Joan is an English feminine given name meaning "God is gracious." It comes from Old French Jehanne or Johanne, the feminine form of Jehan (John), and ultimately from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), a shortened form of Yehohanan (יְהוֹחָנָן). The Hebrew name combines a form of the divine name YHWH with the root ḥanan, "to be gracious" or "to show favor." Its literal sense is "Yahweh is gracious"; the customary English meaning is "God is gracious."
Joan is related to Joanna, Jane, and Jean, which come from the same Hebrew name through Greek Iōannēs and Latin Ioannes or Iohannes. The feminine Latin form Johanna and its Old French relatives lie behind the English name.
Joan Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Yochanan is used in the Hebrew Bible, and its Greek form Iōannēs appears in the New Testament for John the Baptist and John the Apostle. Through Latin Ioannes, the name spread across Christian Europe. In medieval France it took the masculine form Jehan and the feminine Jehanne or Johanne. After the Norman Conquest, French names entered English use, and Joan became an English feminine form of John. Medieval English records contain Joan and spellings such as Johane and Joane.
The best-known bearer is Joan of Arc (French Jeanne d'Arc), the fifteenth-century French military leader and saint. English speakers commonly use Joan for her French name. The name Joan was already in use in England before her lifetime. In Catalan-speaking regions, Joan is a masculine given name equivalent to John.
How Popular is the Name Joan?
Joan recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1932. Its best rank was #5 in 1931.
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 | #1,087 | 222 | 0.0138% |
| 2024 | #1,238 | 188 | 0.0117% |
| 2023 | #1,365 | 165 | 0.0103% |
| 2022 | #1,412 | 161 | 0.0098% |
| 2021 | #1,387 | 158 | 0.0096% |
| 2020 | #1,545 | 137 | 0.0085% |
| 2019 | #1,590 | 134 | 0.0080% |
| 2018 | #1,744 | 118 | 0.0069% |
| 2017 | #1,679 | 128 | 0.0074% |
| 2016 | #1,845 | 112 | 0.0063% |
| 2015 | #2,001 | 99 | 0.0055% |
| 2014 | #2,430 | 75 | 0.0042% |
| 2013 | #2,495 | 72 | 0.0041% |
| 2012 | #2,365 | 79 | 0.0045% |
| 2011 | #2,780 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 2010 | #2,853 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 2009 | #2,627 | 70 | 0.0038% |
| 2008 | #2,704 | 68 | 0.0036% |
| 2007 | #2,728 | 67 | 0.0035% |
| 2006 | #2,360 | 80 | 0.0042% |
| 2005 | #1,852 | 105 | 0.0057% |
| 2004 | #1,977 | 94 | 0.0051% |
| 2003 | #1,805 | 104 | 0.0057% |
| 2002 | #1,658 | 111 | 0.0062% |
| 2001 | #1,357 | 141 | 0.0078% |
| 2000 | #1,221 | 163 | 0.0090% |
| 1999 | #1,411 | 125 | 0.0070% |
| 1998 | #1,356 | 129 | 0.0073% |
| 1997 | #1,241 | 144 | 0.0083% |
| 1996 | #1,281 | 135 | 0.0077% |
| 1995 | #1,103 | 161 | 0.0092% |
| 1994 | #1,063 | 171 | 0.0096% |
| 1993 | #904 | 214 | 0.0118% |
| 1992 | #800 | 252 | 0.0137% |
| 1991 | #801 | 256 | 0.0137% |
| 1990 | #763 | 271 | 0.0143% |
| 1989 | #707 | 280 | 0.0152% |
| 1988 | #688 | 280 | 0.0157% |
| 1987 | #666 | 280 | 0.0161% |
| 1986 | #647 | 285 | 0.0166% |
| 1985 | #601 | 316 | 0.0184% |
| 1984 | #565 | 327 | 0.0194% |
| 1983 | #540 | 347 | 0.0208% |
| 1982 | #539 | 360 | 0.0213% |
| 1981 | #499 | 403 | 0.0242% |
| 1980 | #491 | 422 | 0.0254% |
| 1979 | #502 | 401 | 0.0250% |
| 1978 | #472 | 419 | 0.0274% |
| 1977 | #456 | 433 | 0.0282% |
| 1976 | #433 | 462 | 0.0315% |
| 1975 | #378 | 550 | 0.0377% |
| 1974 | #371 | 577 | 0.0393% |
| 1973 | #367 | 579 | 0.0397% |
| 1972 | #322 | 729 | 0.0479% |
| 1971 | #280 | 1,022 | 0.0614% |
| 1970 | #240 | 1,308 | 0.0748% |
| 1969 | #200 | 1,566 | 0.0928% |
| 1968 | #182 | 1,783 | 0.1087% |
| 1967 | #149 | 2,304 | 0.1396% |
| 1966 | #133 | 2,722 | 0.1609% |
| 1965 | #116 | 3,279 | 0.1858% |
| 1964 | #99 | 4,149 | 0.2190% |
| 1963 | #95 | 4,562 | 0.2367% |
| 1962 | #94 | 4,880 | 0.2481% |
| 1961 | #89 | 5,551 | 0.2750% |
| 1960 | #80 | 5,880 | 0.2908% |
| 1959 | #76 | 6,337 | 0.3132% |
| 1958 | #68 | 6,786 | 0.3373% |
| 1957 | #60 | 7,584 | 0.3709% |
| 1956 | #52 | 8,080 | 0.4024% |
| 1955 | #46 | 8,557 | 0.4376% |
| 1954 | #40 | 9,521 | 0.4903% |
| 1953 | #37 | 9,774 | 0.5195% |
| 1952 | #37 | 10,277 | 0.5542% |
| 1951 | #39 | 9,403 | 0.5221% |
| 1950 | #40 | 8,860 | 0.5172% |
| 1949 | #36 | 9,206 | 0.5381% |
| 1948 | #37 | 9,275 | 0.5463% |
| 1947 | #30 | 11,276 | 0.6361% |
| 1946 | #28 | 11,219 | 0.7140% |
| 1945 | #25 | 10,394 | 0.7952% |
| 1944 | #22 | 11,920 | 0.8981% |
| 1943 | #21 | 13,232 | 0.9483% |
| 1942 | #18 | 14,514 | 1.0746% |
| 1941 | #17 | 13,380 | 1.1075% |
| 1940 | #14 | 13,292 | 1.1624% |
| 1939 | #11 | 14,143 | 1.2897% |
| 1938 | #10 | 14,303 | 1.2962% |
| 1937 | #9 | 15,301 | 1.4380% |
| 1936 | #7 | 17,071 | 1.6408% |
| 1935 | #7 | 18,221 | 1.7377% |
| 1934 | #7 | 19,465 | 1.8641% |
| 1933 | #5 | 19,294 | 1.9142% |
| 1932 | #5 | 21,044 | 1.9720% |
| 1931 | #5 | 19,119 | 1.7957% |
| 1930 | #8 | 15,478 | 1.3747% |
| 1929 | #13 | 11,666 | 1.0448% |
| 1928 | #27 | 7,854 | 0.6810% |
| 1927 | #41 | 6,032 | 0.5059% |
| 1926 | #51 | 4,995 | 0.4214% |
| 1925 | #66 | 4,030 | 0.3310% |
| 1924 | #95 | 3,023 | 0.2421% |
| 1923 | #117 | 2,304 | 0.1910% |
| 1922 | #127 | 2,010 | 0.1674% |
| 1921 | #142 | 1,790 | 0.1452% |
| 1920 | #143 | 1,647 | 0.1374% |
| 1919 | #174 | 1,247 | 0.1103% |
| 1918 | #160 | 1,384 | 0.1196% |
| 1917 | #182 | 1,048 | 0.0969% |
| 1916 | #212 | 823 | 0.0788% |
| 1915 | #210 | 784 | 0.0797% |
| 1914 | #217 | 578 | 0.0759% |
| 1913 | #239 | 411 | 0.0658% |
| 1912 | #250 | 317 | 0.0568% |
| 1911 | #254 | 233 | 0.0557% |
| 1910 | #277 | 196 | 0.0494% |
| 1909 | #303 | 142 | 0.0409% |
| 1908 | #354 | 104 | 0.0311% |
| 1907 | #336 | 109 | 0.0342% |
| 1906 | #343 | 94 | 0.0318% |
| 1905 | #332 | 104 | 0.0357% |
| 1904 | #387 | 73 | 0.0265% |
| 1903 | #402 | 63 | 0.0240% |
| 1902 | #388 | 65 | 0.0246% |
| 1901 | #418 | 52 | 0.0217% |
| 1900 | #443 | 57 | 0.0190% |
| 1899 | #584 | 28 | 0.0120% |
| 1898 | #487 | 40 | 0.0155% |
| 1897 | #516 | 33 | 0.0141% |
| 1896 | #541 | 31 | 0.0130% |
| 1895 | #569 | 28 | 0.0120% |
| 1894 | #651 | 21 | 0.0094% |
| 1893 | #619 | 22 | 0.0103% |
| 1892 | #484 | 32 | 0.0151% |
| 1891 | #736 | 14 | 0.0075% |
| 1890 | #628 | 18 | 0.0095% |
| 1889 | #562 | 21 | 0.0118% |
| 1888 | #704 | 14 | 0.0078% |
| 1887 | #600 | 15 | 0.0103% |
| 1886 | #563 | 16 | 0.0111% |
| 1885 | #772 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1884 | #661 | 11 | 0.0085% |
| 1883 | #867 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1882 | #582 | 11 | 0.0102% |
| 1881 | #784 | 6 | 0.0065% |
| 1880 | #508 | 12 | 0.0132% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #987 | 232 | 0.0136% |
| 2024 | #1,013 | 220 | 0.0128% |
| 2023 | #1,079 | 200 | 0.0117% |
| 2022 | #1,087 | 201 | 0.0115% |
| 2021 | #1,112 | 185 | 0.0106% |
| 2020 | #1,135 | 172 | 0.0100% |
| 2019 | #1,174 | 165 | 0.0092% |
| 2018 | #1,103 | 178 | 0.0098% |
| 2017 | #1,117 | 172 | 0.0093% |
| 2016 | #1,052 | 188 | 0.0099% |
| 2015 | #1,127 | 170 | 0.0089% |
| 2014 | #1,220 | 150 | 0.0078% |
| 2013 | #1,102 | 168 | 0.0089% |
| 2012 | #1,260 | 140 | 0.0074% |
| 2011 | #1,212 | 144 | 0.0076% |
| 2010 | #1,198 | 150 | 0.0078% |
| 2009 | #1,060 | 178 | 0.0090% |
| 2008 | #1,082 | 173 | 0.0085% |
| 2007 | #913 | 217 | 0.0105% |
| 2006 | #990 | 188 | 0.0091% |
| 2005 | #997 | 173 | 0.0087% |
| 2004 | #1,021 | 161 | 0.0081% |
| 2003 | #1,106 | 139 | 0.0070% |
| 2002 | #782 | 221 | 0.0114% |
| 2001 | #865 | 186 | 0.0096% |
| 2000 | #912 | 170 | 0.0087% |
| 1999 | #1,316 | 92 | 0.0048% |
| 1998 | #1,307 | 91 | 0.0048% |
| 1997 | #1,122 | 113 | 0.0060% |
| 1996 | #1,525 | 66 | 0.0035% |
| 1995 | #2,043 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 1994 | #1,947 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1993 | #1,837 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 1992 | #1,896 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1991 | #1,998 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1990 | #1,742 | 46 | 0.0022% |
| 1989 | #2,008 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1988 | #1,832 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1987 | #1,915 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1986 | #2,189 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1985 | #2,325 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #2,575 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #2,994 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #2,234 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #2,722 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1980 | #2,671 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #3,079 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #2,985 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #2,838 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #3,011 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #3,535 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #2,402 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #3,119 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #2,590 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #2,323 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #2,445 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,360 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #1,445 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1967 | #2,082 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #1,925 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #1,835 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #1,451 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1963 | #1,562 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1962 | #1,732 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #1,911 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #1,503 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #1,395 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1958 | #1,803 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #1,418 | 31 | 0.0014% |
| 1956 | #1,589 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1955 | #1,353 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #1,422 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1953 | #1,418 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1952 | #1,532 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1951 | #1,622 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1950 | #1,379 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #1,137 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1948 | #1,736 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #1,465 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1946 | #1,315 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1945 | #1,360 | 24 | 0.0018% |
| 1944 | #872 | 53 | 0.0039% |
| 1943 | #919 | 53 | 0.0037% |
| 1942 | #788 | 67 | 0.0049% |
| 1941 | #716 | 75 | 0.0061% |
| 1940 | #785 | 63 | 0.0054% |
| 1939 | #751 | 65 | 0.0059% |
| 1938 | #726 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1937 | #619 | 88 | 0.0083% |
| 1936 | #658 | 80 | 0.0077% |
| 1935 | #619 | 90 | 0.0086% |
| 1934 | #656 | 85 | 0.0082% |
| 1933 | #765 | 64 | 0.0065% |
| 1932 | #645 | 88 | 0.0084% |
| 1931 | #666 | 81 | 0.0078% |
| 1930 | #780 | 68 | 0.0062% |
| 1929 | #909 | 55 | 0.0051% |
| 1928 | #1,201 | 36 | 0.0033% |
| 1927 | #1,284 | 33 | 0.0029% |
| 1926 | #1,419 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1925 | #1,436 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1924 | #2,170 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1923 | #1,906 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1922 | #2,098 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1921 | #2,712 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1920 | #2,094 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1919 | #2,017 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1918 | #2,990 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1917 | #2,234 | 13 | 0.0014% |
| 1916 | #2,639 | 10 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #3,226 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #3,085 | 6 | 0.0009% |
| 1912 | #2,722 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1911 | #1,470 | 7 | 0.0031% |
| 1903 | #1,210 | 5 | 0.0042% |
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.
