Joanna

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joanna is a feminine given name deriving from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα Iōanna. Variants in English include Joan, Joann, Joanne, and Johanna. Other forms of the name in English are Jan, Jane, Janet, Janice, Jean, and Jeanne.

Joanna
Given Name
Gender female
Related names Joanne, Joan, Jean
Wikipedia articles All pages beginning with Joanna
Look up Joanna in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Contents

[edit] In other languages

The earliest recorded occurrence of the name Joanna, in Luke 8:3, refers to the disciple "Joanna the wife of Chuza," who was an associate of Mary Magdalene. Her name as given is Greek in form, although it ultimately originated from the Hebrew masculine name יְהוֹחָנָן Yehôḥānān or יוֹחָנָן Yôḥānān meaning 'God is gracious'. In Greek this name became Ιωαννης Iōannēs, from which Iōanna was derived by giving it a feminine ending. The original Latin form Joanna was used in English to translate the equivalents in other languages; for example, Juana la Loca is known in English as Joanna the Mad. The variant form Johanna originated in Latin in the Middle Ages, by analogy with the Latin masculine name Johannes. The Greek form lacks a medial -h- because in Greek /h/ could only occur initially.

The Hebrew name יוֹחָנָה Yôḥānnāh was borne by men in earlier centuries, but in modern usage it has become feminine, to provide a Hebrew equivalent for the name Joanna and its variants. The Christian Arabic form of John is يوحنّا Yūḥannā, based on the Syriac form of the name. For Joanna, Arabic translations of the Bible use يونّا Yuwannā based on Syriac ܝܘܚܢ Yoanna, which in turn is based on the Greek form Iōanna.

Sometimes in modern English Joanne is reinterpreted as a compound of the two names Jo and Anne, and therefore given a spelling like JoAnne, Jo-Anne, or Jo Anne. However, the original name Joanna is a single unit, not a compound. The names Hannah, Anna, Anne, Ann are etymologically related to Joanna just the same: they are derived from Hebrew חַנָּה Ḥannāh 'grace' from the same verbal root meaning 'to be gracious'.

[edit] Women named Joanna

[edit] Joanna in popular culture

[edit] Songs containing references to 'Joanna'

[edit] In literature

  • The Cloning of Joanna May, a science fiction novel by Fay Weldon.
  • Two Women of Galilee, a novel by Mary Rourke about the friendship of Joanna and Mary, retelling events from the Gospel from the women's point of view.

[edit] Other uses

[edit] External links

Joanna Artiste peinture sculpture