Jo

God is gracious — Associated with 'Yohanan
English origin · Unisex name
1% boys99% girls
#3397US 2023
47Births / yr
Rising
180.7kAll-time births
📅 Since 1881🏆 26 years in top 1000.38% of births at peak
How to pronounce Jo
JOH
/ˈdʒoʊ/ · stress on JOH · 1 syllable
God is gracious
Associated with 'Yohanan · English origin

What does Jo mean and where does it come from?

Jo, often a diminutive form of names like Joanna or Josephine, has Hebrew origins primarily associated with 'Yohanan,' meaning 'God is gracious.' The name has been used since antiquity and continues to be a popular choice due to its simplicity and elegance. It enjoys widespread popularity in various

Cultural significance
Jo has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in English-speaking communities, where it reflects values of god is gracious.
Peak popularity
Reached #51 in 1947 — currently #3397 in the US.
🌿
Related Reading
English-origin baby names with timeless appeal
Browse names →

How else can you spell Jo?

Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive

What middle names flow best with Jo?

Jo works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Jo Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Jo Rose
Floral · soft ending
Jo Mae
Sweet · timeless
Jo Claire
French influence · crisp
Jo Jane
Literary · strong
Jo Skye
Modern · airy feel
👶
Middle Names
The best middle names for Jo
Browse ideas →

How popular is Jo right now?

Rising fast — up 674 spots — currently #3397 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 18852023#3397 · Top 2.5%
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2021
2022
2023
YearUS RankBirthsvs Prior Year
2023#339747▲ up 674 · +31% births
2022#407136▼ down 432 · -14% births
2021#363942▲ up 412 · +24% births
2020#405134▲ up 931 · +26% births
2015#498227▲ up 10005 · +350% births
2010#149876▼ down 8161 · -65% births
2005#682617▼ down 2028 · -29% births
2000#479824▼ down 2513 · -59% births
1995#228558▼ down 567 · -32% births
1990#171885▼ down 793 · -50% births
1985#925171▼ down 386 · -51% births
1980#539349▼ down 150 · -33% births
1975#389521▼ down 117 · -53% births
1970#2721,102▼ down 89 · -40% births
1965#1831,851

The story of Jo

Jo has been a beloved American name for over 143 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1881. Its peak popularity was #51 in 1947. More than 180,697 babies have been named Jo since 1881. Once ranked #691 in 1885, the name has become less common in recent years, sitting at #3397 in 2023. Jo is used for both genders: 99% female and 1% male.

Names that peaked alongside Jo in 1947:

Jo by decade

Jo peaked in the 1940s. See all 1940s names →

DecadeBirths
1880s69
1890s140
1900s311
1910s1,266
1920s7,061
1930s28,931
1940s48,720
1950s64,237
1960s20,402
1970s6,094
1980s2,139
1990s685
2000s302
2010s298
2020s42

What are good nicknames for Jo?

CROATIAN
Nina
CZECH
IvkaNina
DANISH
JannickeJannikeNina
ENGLISH
JanJannaJannahJojoNenaNettaNettieNina

Gender variants of Jo

Deshaun AFRICAN AMERICANDeshawn AFRICAN AMERICANKeshaun AFRICAN AMERICANKeshawn AFRICAN AMERICANRashaun AFRICAN AMERICANRashawn AFRICAN AMERICANGjon ALBANIANYahya ARABICYousef ARABICYoussef ARABICYuhanna ARABICYusef ARABICYusuf ARABICHovhannes ARMENIANHovik ARMENIANHovo ARMENIANHovsep ARMENIANOhannes ARMENIANYusif AZERBAIJANIGanix BASQUEIon BASQUEJon BASQUEJoseba BASQUEIvan BELARUSIANYan BELARUSIANIoannes BIBLICAL GREEKIoseph BIBLICAL GREEKIoses BIBLICAL GREEKYehochanan BIBLICAL HEBREWYochanan BIBLICAL HEBREWYosef BIBLICAL HEBREWIohannes BIBLICAL LATINIoseph BIBLICAL LATINJehohanan BIBLICALJohanan BIBLICALJohn BIBLICALJoseph BIBLICALJoses BIBLICALYanick BRETONYann BRETONYannic BRETONYannick BRETONIoan BULGARIANIvan BULGARIANIvo BULGARIANYanko BULGARIANYoan BULGARIANYosif BULGARIANJan CATALANJoan CATALANJosep CATALANJowan CORNISHGhjuvan CORSICANIvan CROATIANIvica CROATIANIvo CROATIANJanko CROATIANJosip CROATIANJoško CROATIANJoso CROATIANJozo CROATIANVanja CROATIANHonza CZECHIvan CZECHJan CZECHJanek CZECHJosef CZECHHans DANISHJan DANISHJannick DANISHJannik DANISHJens DANISHJohan DANISHJohannes DANISHJon DANISHJosef DANISHHanke DUTCHHanne DUTCHHannes DUTCHHans DUTCHJan DUTCHJef DUTCHJoep DUTCHJohan DUTCHJohannes DUTCHJoop DUTCHJoos DUTCHJoost DUTCHJos DUTCHJosephus DUTCHJozef DUTCHSjef DUTCHZef DUTCHEvan ENGLISHHank ENGLISHIan ENGLISHIvan ENGLISHJack ENGLISHJackie ENGLISHJake ENGLISHJoe ENGLISHJoey ENGLISHJohn ENGLISHJohnie ENGLISHJohnnie ENGLISHJohnny ENGLISHJojo ENGLISHJon ENGLISHJoseph ENGLISHSean ENGLISHShane ENGLISHShaun ENGLISHShawn ENGLISHShayne ENGLISHVan ENGLISHJoĉjo ESPERANTOJohano ESPERANTOJozefo ESPERANTOJaan ESTONIANJohannes ESTONIANJoosep ESTONIANJuhan ESTONIANJóannes FAROESEJóhannes FAROESEJón FAROESEHannes FINNISHHannu FINNISHJani FINNISHJanne FINNISHJohannes FINNISHJoni FINNISHJooseppi FINNISHJouni FINNISHJuha FINNISHJuhana FINNISHJuhani FINNISHJuho FINNISHJukka FINNISHJussi FINNISHJuuso FINNISHJean FRENCHJeannot FRENCHJoseph FRENCHYanick FRENCHYann FRENCHYannic FRENCHYannick FRENCHXoán GALICIANXosé GALICIANIoane GEORGIANIoseb GEORGIANIvane GEORGIANSoso GEORGIANVano GEORGIANHannes GERMANHans GERMANJan GERMANJohann GERMANJohannes GERMANJosef GERMANJoseph GERMANSepp GERMANSeppel GERMANGianni GREEKGiannis GREEKIoannis GREEKIosif GREEKYanni GREEKYannis GREEKYianni GREEKYiannis GREEKKeoni HAWAIIANYochanan HEBREWYosef HEBREWJosephus HISTORYIván HUNGARIANJancsi HUNGARIANJani HUNGARIANJános HUNGARIANJóska HUNGARIANJózsef HUNGARIANJózsi HUNGARIANJóhann ICELANDICJóhannes ICELANDICJón ICELANDICYohanes INDONESIANEoin IRISHSeán IRISHSean IRISHSeosamh IRISHShane IRISHBeppe ITALIANGian ITALIANGianni ITALIANGiannino ITALIANGiovanni ITALIANGiuseppe ITALIANIvan ITALIANIvano ITALIANNino ITALIANPeppe ITALIANPeppi ITALIANPeppino ITALIANPino ITALIANVanni ITALIANIosephus LATE ROMANJoannes LATE ROMANJohannes LATE ROMANJānis LATVIANJāzeps LATVIANSjang LIMBURGISHSjeng LIMBURGISHJonas LITHUANIANJuozapas LITHUANIANJuozas LITHUANIANIvan MACEDONIANIvo MACEDONIANJosif MACEDONIANJovan MACEDONIANEan MANXJuan MANXHohepa MAORIHankin MEDIEVAL ENGLISHHann MEDIEVAL ENGLISHJackin MEDIEVAL ENGLISHJan MEDIEVAL ENGLISHJankin MEDIEVAL ENGLISHJon MEDIEVAL ENGLISHJehan MEDIEVAL FRENCHZuan MEDIEVAL ITALIANHans NORWEGIANJan NORWEGIANJens NORWEGIANJohan NORWEGIANJohannes NORWEGIANJon NORWEGIANJone NORWEGIANJosef NORWEGIANJoan OCCITANJosèp OCCITANIoannu OLD CHURCH SLAVICIosifu OLD CHURCH SLAVICYahya PERSIANIwan POLISHJan POLISHJanek POLISHJanusz POLISHJózef POLISHJoão PORTUGUESEJoãozinho PORTUGUESEJosé PORTUGUESE PORTUGUESEZezé PORTUGUESEIancu ROMANIANIoan ROMANIANIon ROMANIANIonel ROMANIANIonuț ROMANIANIosif ROMANIANNelu ROMANIANIoann RUSSIANIosif RUSSIANIvan RUSSIANOsip RUSSIANVanya RUSSIANJuhán SAMIGiuanne SARDINIANJuanne SARDINIANEoin SCOTTISHIain SCOTTISHIan SCOTTISHJock SCOTTISHJockie SCOTTISHJocky SCOTTISHSeoc SCOTTISHSeòsaidh SCOTTISHIvan SERBIANIvica SERBIANIvo SERBIANJanko SERBIANJosif SERBIANJovan SERBIANVanja SERBIANIvan SLOVAKJán SLOVAKJanko SLOVAKJozef SLOVAKAnže SLOVENEIvan SLOVENEJan SLOVENEJanez SLOVENEJanko SLOVENEJosip SLOVENEJože SLOVENEJožef SLOVENEŽan SLOVENEIván SPANISHJosé SPANISHJosepe SPANISHJuan SPANISHJuanito SPANISHPepe SPANISHPepito SPANISHXuan SPANISHHampus SWEDISHHannes SWEDISHHans SWEDISHHasse SWEDISHJan SWEDISHJanne SWEDISHJens SWEDISHJohan SWEDISHJohannes SWEDISHJon SWEDISHJosef SWEDISHYahya TURKISHYusuf TURKISHIvan UKRAINIANYosyp UKRAINIANYusup UYGHUREvan WELSHIanto WELSHIefan WELSHIeuan WELSHIfan WELSHIoan WELSHIwan WELSHSiôn WELSHYussel YIDDISHLashawn AFRICAN AMERICANTajuana AFRICAN AMERICANJone BASQUEIoanna BIBLICAL GREEKIohanna BIBLICAL LATINJoanna BIBLICALIoana BULGARIANIvana BULGARIANIvanka BULGARIANYana BULGARIANYanka BULGARIANYoana BULGARIANJana CATALANJoana CATALANJoaquima CATALANFinka CROATIANIna CROATIANIvana CROATIANIvanka CROATIANJosipa CROATIANJozefina CROATIANJožica CROATIANNina CROATIANŽana CROATIANIva CZECHIvana CZECHIvanka CZECHIvka CZECHJana CZECHJanička CZECHJohana CZECHJosefa CZECHNina CZECHHanna DANISHHanne DANISHJanne DANISHJannicke DANISHJannike DANISHJeanette DANISHJohanna DANISHJohanne DANISHJonna DANISHJosefine DANISHNina DANISHVanja DANISHHanna DUTCHHanne DUTCHHannie DUTCHJana DUTCHJanine DUTCHJanna DUTCHJanneke DUTCHJantine DUTCHJantje DUTCHJeanette DUTCHJeanine DUTCHJeannette DUTCHJennigje DUTCHJenny DUTCHJohanna DUTCHJohanneke DUTCHJosephine DUTCHJozefien DUTCHNina DUTCHGenette ENGLISHJan ENGLISHJanae ENGLISHJane ENGLISHJaneka ENGLISHJanel ENGLISHJanele ENGLISHJanella ENGLISHJanelle ENGLISHJanene ENGLISHJanessa ENGLISHJanet ENGLISHJanetta ENGLISHJanette ENGLISHJaney ENGLISHJanice ENGLISHJanie ENGLISHJanine ENGLISHJanis ENGLISHJanna ENGLISHJannah ENGLISHJannette ENGLISHJannine ENGLISHJayna ENGLISHJayne ENGLISHJaynie ENGLISHJean ENGLISHJeana ENGLISHJeane ENGLISHJeanette ENGLISHJeanie ENGLISHJeanine ENGLISHJeanna ENGLISHJeanne ENGLISHJeannette ENGLISHJeannie ENGLISHJeannine ENGLISHJeni ENGLISHJenna ENGLISHJenni ENGLISHJennie ENGLISHJenny ENGLISHJessalyn ENGLISHJessi ENGLISHJessie ENGLISHJessye ENGLISHJoan ENGLISHJoanie ENGLISHJoann ENGLISHJoanna ENGLISHJoanne ENGLISHJodene ENGLISHJodi ENGLISHJodie ENGLISHJody ENGLISHJoetta ENGLISHJoey ENGLISHJohanna ENGLISHJohna ENGLISHJohnna ENGLISHJojo ENGLISHJoleen ENGLISHJolene ENGLISHJonelle ENGLISHJonette ENGLISHJoni ENGLISHJonie ENGLISHJosepha ENGLISHJosephina ENGLISHJosephine ENGLISHJosie ENGLISHNena ENGLISHNetta ENGLISHNettie ENGLISHNina ENGLISHPosie ENGLISHPosy ENGLISHSeanna ENGLISHShauna ENGLISHShavonne ENGLISHShawna ENGLISHSheena ENGLISHSheenagh ENGLISHShena ENGLISHShevaun ENGLISHShevon ENGLISHJohanna ESTONIANHanna FINNISHHannele FINNISHIina FINNISHJanika FINNISHJanina FINNISHJanna FINNISHJenna FINNISHJenni FINNISHJenny FINNISHJohanna FINNISHJonna FINNISHJosefiina FINNISHNina FINNISHFifi FRENCHJanine FRENCHJeanette FRENCHJeanine FRENCHJeanne FRENCHJeannette FRENCHJeannine FRENCHJoanne FRENCHJohanne FRENCHJosée FRENCHJosèphe FRENCHJoséphine FRENCHJosette FRENCHJosiane FRENCHNina FRENCHNinette FRENCHXoana GALICIANHanna GERMANHanne GERMANJana GERMANJanina GERMANJanine GERMANJenny GERMANJohanna GERMANJosefine GERMANJosepha GERMANJosephine GERMANNina GERMANGianna GREEKIoanna GREEKNana GREEKYanna GREEKHanna HUNGARIANJohanna HUNGARIANJozefa HUNGARIANZsanett HUNGARIANJenný ICELANDICJóhanna ICELANDICJóna ICELANDICChevonne IRISHShavonne IRISHShevaun IRISHShevon IRISHSíne IRISHSinéad IRISHSiobhán IRISHGia ITALIANGianna ITALIANGiannina ITALIANGiosetta ITALIANGiovanna ITALIANGiovannetta ITALIANGiuseppa ITALIANGiuseppina ITALIANNina ITALIANPina ITALIANVanna ITALIANJohanna LATE ROMANJanina LITHUANIANIvana MACEDONIANJovana MACEDONIANJovanka MACEDONIANJovka MACEDONIANVana MACEDONIANJehanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHJohanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHHanna NORWEGIANHanne NORWEGIANJanne NORWEGIANJannicke NORWEGIANJannike NORWEGIANJeanette NORWEGIANJohanna NORWEGIANJohanne NORWEGIANJosefine NORWEGIANNina NORWEGIANVanja NORWEGIANAsia POLISHJanina POLISHJoanna POLISHJoasia POLISHJózefa POLISHJózefina POLISHNina POLISHJoana PORTUGUESEJoaninha PORTUGUESEJosefa PORTUGUESEJosefina PORTUGUESEIoana ROMANIANIonela ROMANIANOana ROMANIANIvanna RUSSIANYana RUSSIANZhanna RUSSIANZhannochka RUSSIANLashawn AFRICAN AMERICANTajuana AFRICAN AMERICANJone BASQUEIoanna BIBLICAL GREEKIohanna BIBLICAL LATINJoanna BIBLICALIoana BULGARIANIvana BULGARIANIvanka BULGARIANYana BULGARIANYanka BULGARIANYoana BULGARIANJana CATALANJoana CATALANJoaquima CATALANFinka CROATIANIna CROATIANIvana CROATIANIvanka CROATIANJosipa CROATIANJozefina CROATIANJožica CROATIANNina CROATIANŽana CROATIANIva CZECHIvana CZECHIvanka CZECHIvka CZECHJana CZECHJanička CZECHJohana CZECHJosefa CZECHNina CZECHHanna DANISHHanne DANISHJanne DANISHJannicke DANISHJannike DANISHJeanette DANISHJohanna DANISHJohanne DANISHJonna DANISHJosefine DANISHNina DANISHVanja DANISHHanna DUTCHHanne DUTCHHannie DUTCHJana DUTCHJanine DUTCHJanna DUTCHJanneke DUTCHJantine DUTCHJantje DUTCHJeanette DUTCHJeanine DUTCHJeannette DUTCHJennigje DUTCHJenny DUTCHJohanna DUTCHJohanneke DUTCHJosephine DUTCHJozefien DUTCHNina DUTCHGenette ENGLISHJan ENGLISHJanae ENGLISHJane ENGLISHJaneka ENGLISHJanel ENGLISHJanele ENGLISHJanella ENGLISHJanelle ENGLISHJanene ENGLISHJanessa ENGLISHJanet ENGLISHJanetta ENGLISHJanette ENGLISHJaney ENGLISHJanice ENGLISHJanie ENGLISHJanine ENGLISHJanis ENGLISHJanna ENGLISHJannah ENGLISHJannette ENGLISHJannine ENGLISHJayna ENGLISHJayne ENGLISHJaynie ENGLISHJean ENGLISHJeana ENGLISHJeane ENGLISHJeanette ENGLISHJeanie ENGLISHJeanine ENGLISHJeanna ENGLISHJeanne ENGLISHJeannette ENGLISHJeannie ENGLISHJeannine ENGLISHJeni ENGLISHJenna ENGLISHJenni ENGLISHJennie ENGLISHJenny ENGLISHJessalyn ENGLISHJessi ENGLISHJessie ENGLISHJessye ENGLISHJoan ENGLISHJoanie ENGLISHJoann ENGLISHJoanna ENGLISHJoanne ENGLISHJodene ENGLISHJodi ENGLISHJodie ENGLISHJody ENGLISHJoetta ENGLISHJoey ENGLISHJohanna ENGLISHJohna ENGLISHJohnna ENGLISHJojo ENGLISHJoleen ENGLISHJolene ENGLISHJonelle ENGLISHJonette ENGLISHJoni ENGLISHJonie ENGLISHJosepha ENGLISHJosephina ENGLISHJosephine ENGLISHJosie ENGLISHNena ENGLISHNetta ENGLISHNettie ENGLISHNina ENGLISHPosie ENGLISHPosy ENGLISHSeanna ENGLISHShauna ENGLISHShavonne ENGLISHShawna ENGLISHSheena ENGLISHSheenagh ENGLISHShena ENGLISHShevaun ENGLISHShevon ENGLISHJohanna ESTONIANHanna FINNISHHannele FINNISHIina FINNISHJanika FINNISHJanina FINNISHJanna FINNISHJenna FINNISHJenni FINNISHJenny FINNISHJohanna FINNISHJonna FINNISHJosefiina FINNISHNina FINNISHFifi FRENCHJanine FRENCHJeanette FRENCHJeanine FRENCHJeanne FRENCHJeannette FRENCHJeannine FRENCHJoanne FRENCHJohanne FRENCHJosée FRENCHJosèphe FRENCHJoséphine FRENCHJosette FRENCHJosiane FRENCHNina FRENCHNinette FRENCHXoana GALICIANHanna GERMANHanne GERMANJana GERMANJanina GERMANJanine GERMANJenny GERMANJohanna GERMANJosefine GERMANJosepha GERMANJosephine GERMANNina GERMANGianna GREEKIoanna GREEKNana GREEKYanna GREEKHanna HUNGARIANJohanna HUNGARIANJozefa HUNGARIANZsanett HUNGARIANJenný ICELANDICJóhanna ICELANDICJóna ICELANDICChevonne IRISHShavonne IRISHShevaun IRISHShevon IRISHSíne IRISHSinéad IRISHSiobhán IRISHGia ITALIANGianna ITALIANGiannina ITALIANGiosetta ITALIANGiovanna ITALIANGiovannetta ITALIANGiuseppa ITALIANGiuseppina ITALIANNina ITALIANPina ITALIANVanna ITALIANJohanna LATE ROMANJanina LITHUANIANIvana MACEDONIANJovana MACEDONIANJovanka MACEDONIANJovka MACEDONIANVana MACEDONIANJehanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHJohanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHHanna NORWEGIANHanne NORWEGIANJanne NORWEGIANJannicke NORWEGIANJannike NORWEGIANJeanette NORWEGIANJohanna NORWEGIANJohanne NORWEGIANJosefine NORWEGIANNina NORWEGIANVanja NORWEGIANAsia POLISHJanina POLISHJoanna POLISHJoasia POLISHJózefa POLISHJózefina POLISHNina POLISHJoana PORTUGUESEJoaninha PORTUGUESEJosefa PORTUGUESEJosefina PORTUGUESEIoana ROMANIANIonela ROMANIANOana ROMANIANIvanna RUSSIANYana RUSSIANZhanna RUSSIANZhannochka RUSSIANGiuanna SARDINIANJean SCOTTISHJessie SCOTTISHSeona SCOTTISHSeonag SCOTTISHSeònaid SCOTTISHSheena SCOTTISHSheona SCOTTISHShona SCOTTISHSìne SCOTTISHSìneag SCOTTISHTeasag SCOTTISHIvana SERBIANIvanka SERBIANJovana SERBIANJovanka SERBIANNina SERBIANIva SLOVAKIvana SLOVAKIvanka SLOVAKIvka SLOVAKJana SLOVAKJanka SLOVAKJozefína SLOVAKNina SLOVAKIva SLOVENEIvana SLOVENEIvanka SLOVENEJana SLOVENEJožefa SLOVENEJozefa SLOVENEJožica SLOVENENina SLOVENEPepca SLOVENEŽana SLOVENEJenny SPANISHJoaquina SPANISHJosefa SPANISHJosefina SPANISHJuana SPANISHJuanita SPANISHPepita SPANISHHanna SWEDISHJanina SWEDISHJanna SWEDISHJannicke SWEDISHJannike SWEDISHJeanette SWEDISHJennie SWEDISHJenny SWEDISHJohanna SWEDISHJonna SWEDISHJosefina SWEDISHJosefine SWEDISHNina SWEDISHVanja SWEDISHYana UKRAINIANShan WELSHSiân WELSHSiana WELSHSiani WELSHSioned WELSHSiwan WELSHJackson ENGLISHJaxon ENGLISHJaxson ENGLISHJoBeth ENGLISHMalone ENGLISHSinjin ENGLISHYancy ENGLISHYahweh THEOLOGYBevan WELSH

Common questions about the name Jo

What does the name Jo mean?
Jo means "God is gracious" — a name rooted in English tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Jo?
Jo is currently a distinctive and less common name as a baby name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Jo have increased significantly in recent years.
What is the cultural origin of Jo?
Jo originates from English tradition. English names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Jo?
Jo is a one-syllable name pronounced JH OW1. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
How does Jo sound with different last names?
As a one-syllable name, Jo flows best with last names of two or three syllables. Avoid last names ending in the same sound as Jo ends, as this can create an unwanted rhyme. Test by saying the full name out loud several times.