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The short answer
Joan is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Medieval English form of Johanne, an Old French form of Iohanna (see Joanna). This was the usual English feminine form of John in the Middle Ages, but it was surpassed in popularity by Jane in the 17th century." It ranked #1087 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, medieval English form of Johanne, an Old French form of Iohanna (see Joanna). This was the usual English feminine form of John in the Middle Ages, but it was surpassed in popularity by Jane in the 17th century. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Joan ranked #1087 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #1087 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Joan in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Joan mean?
Behind the Name does not give Joan a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: medieval English form of Johanne, an Old French form of Iohanna.
Is Joan a popular name?
Joan ranked #1087 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Joan a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Joan appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Joan (1) — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
