Joanna
Joanna is the Latin and Greek form of the Hebrew "Yochanan," meaning "God is gracious." In the New Testament, Joanna was one of the women who followed Jesus and was the first to discover the empty tomb (Luke 24:10). She was the wife of Chuza, the steward of Herod Antipas. The name has been continuously used in Christian Europe since the medieval period. Joanna was a top-200 American name from 1970 to 1990, peaking at #75 in 1984. Joanna Lumley (born 1946), the British actress known for "Absolutely Fabulous," is one of the most beloved English comic actresses. Joanna Newsom (born 1982), the American harpist and singer-songwriter, gave the name a contemporary indie-folk charge. I find Joanna has an elegant, slightly formal quality — the "J" opening is firm, the "nn" gives it softness, and the "a" ending gives it warmth. The name sounds both biblical and contemporary. Joanna has been in the US top 300 for most of the past 40 years. Joanna is a female name of Hebrew (via Greek/Latin) origin that means "God is gracious (feminine of John)". Elegant, formal, and biblical. The name sounds graceful. Joannas tend to be composed. US top 300 since 1980s. Well-known people named Joanna include Joanna (biblical), Joanna Lumley (actress), Joanna Newsom (musician), Joanna (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Joanna include Joanne (variant), Joan (older form), Joana (Portuguese), Jo(h)anna (variant).