Medieval English form of Johanna, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'; borne by Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc), making it one of the most historically charged female names in Western culture.
Nicknames
jo · joannie
Vibe
playful
How it ages.
Seriously underrated for revival - Joan of Arc association gives it permanent heroic weight.
The cultural moment.
Very common in the US and UK from the 1920s-1960s; rare for newborns, ripe for rediscovery.