Is Joan a boy's or girl's name?

Joan is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 7,469 recorded births.

When was Joan most popular?

Joan reached its peak popularity in 1932 with 21,044 births that year. It is currently ranked #1238 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Joan?

Joan is currently ranked #1238 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 481,016 babies since 1880.

Joan

An uncommon French pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysFrenchRising fast Also a pet name

#1238▲ 127in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from French, a feminine form of John.

Joan is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin via French, the medieval English feminine form of John, ultimately from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious."

Joan of Arc, the 15th-century French heroine who led an army at age 17 and became a Catholic saint, gives this name an extraordinary historic force. Joan was a top 10 U.S. name in the 1930s and 1940s. Writer Joan Didion added a penetrating literary intelligence to the name's legacy. Clean, direct, and quietly fierce — Joan is a one-syllable powerhouse.

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Popularity Over Time

Joan climbed 739 spots in the last 20 years — from #1977 to #1238.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Joan
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	809	#1389	▼
2010s	941	#2178	—
2000s	1,003	#2029	▼
1990s	1,858	#1072	▼
1980s	3,300	#594	▼
1970s	6,480	#382	▼
1960s	36,676	#124	▼
1950s	85,179	#50	▼
1940s	117,708	#25	▼
1930s	173,439	#7	▲
1920s	45,351	#82	▲
1910s	7,021	#218	▲
1900s	863	#371	▲
1890s	267	#582	▲
1880s	121	#660	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Joan
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	188	#1238	+23 (13.9%)
2023	165	#1365	+4 (2.5%)
2022	161	#1412	+3 (1.9%)
2021	158	#1387	+21 (15.3%)
2020	137	#1545	+3 (2.2%)
2019	134	#1590	+16 (13.6%)
2018	118	#1744	-10 (-7.8%)
2017	128	#1679	+16 (14.3%)
2016	112	#1845	+13 (13.1%)
2015	99	#2001	+24 (32.0%)
2014	75	#2430	+3 (4.2%)
2013	72	#2495	-7 (-8.9%)
2012	79	#2365	+16 (25.4%)
2011	63	#2780	+2 (3.3%)
2010	61	#2853	-9 (-12.9%)
2009	70	#2627	+2 (2.9%)
2008	68	#2704	+1 (1.5%)
2007	67	#2728	-13 (-16.3%)
2006	80	#2360	-25 (-23.8%)
2005	105	#1852	+11 (11.7%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Joan as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Joan has also been given to 7,469 boys in the U.S. since 1903.

#1013

Current rank

7,469

Total births

2002

Peak year

Compare Joan as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Joan be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Joan is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1238. As a boy's name, it ranks #1013.

Joan has two lives

Joan, the baby name

#1238girls

481,016 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology