Joan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Joan is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Joan?
Joan is spelled J-O-A-N. The name has 4 letters.
Joan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning “God is gracious.”
- Origin
- Joan is commonly associated with medieval England and France as a feminine form of John.
- Pronunciation
- jo-an · 2 syllables
Joan Popularity in 2025
Rank#1,085
Recorded Births222
Rank#984
Recorded Births232
- Girls usage rose 155 places to #1,085 and recorded 34 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 29 places to #984 and recorded 12 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Joan Mean?
Derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning “God is gracious.”
Origin: Joan is commonly associated with medieval England and France as a feminine form of John.
How Do You Pronounce Joan?
Pronunciationjo-an
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Joan?
- History
- The name Joan is notably borne by Joan of Arc, a French heroine of the 15th century.
Joan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 222 | #1,085 |
| 2025 | Boys | 232 | #984 |
| 2024 | Girls | 188 | #1,240 |
| 2024 | Boys | 220 | #1,013 |
| 2023 | Girls | 165 | #1,361 |
| 2023 | Boys | 200 | #1,079 |
| 2022 | Girls | 161 | #1,412 |
| 2022 | Boys | 201 | #1,084 |
| 2021 | Girls | 158 | #1,384 |
| 2021 | Boys | 185 | #1,112 |
| 2020 | Girls | 137 | #1,545 |
| 2020 | Boys | 172 | #1,134 |
| 2019 | Girls | 134 | #1,585 |
| 2019 | Boys | 165 | #1,171 |
| 2018 | Girls | 118 | #1,741 |
| 2018 | Boys | 178 | #1,101 |
| 2017 | Girls | 128 | #1,677 |
| 2017 | Boys | 172 | #1,116 |
| 2016 | Girls | 112 | #1,841 |
| 2016 | Boys | 188 | #1,049 |
| 2015 | Girls | 99 | #1,996 |
| 2015 | Boys | 170 | #1,124 |
| 2014 | Girls | 75 | #2,412 |
| 2014 | Boys | 150 | #1,218 |
When Was Joan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1932 · Girls
21,044 recorded births
National rank #5
1934 · Girls
19,465 recorded births
National rank #7
1933 · Girls
19,294 recorded births
National rank #5
1931 · Girls
19,119 recorded births
National rank #5
Where Joan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| CT | #540 | 5 |
| KS | #578 | 5 |
| WA | #617 | 10 |
| MI | #690 | 11 |
| IN | #721 | 8 |
| WI | #791 | 5 |
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| TX | #566 | 56 |
| AZ | #672 | 9 |
| WI | #678 | 6 |
| MD | #702 | 6 |
| CA | #776 | 33 |
| FL | #809 | 18 |