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Jo-Ann

Girl name · 26 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Jo-Ann: 26 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1977.

Jo-Ann is a compound name, blending Jo, a short form of Joanna or Josephine, with Ann, the English form of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favour." This double-barrelled spelling became particularly popular in mid-20th-century Scotland, offering a more formal alternative to the single-name Joanne. One of the most famous bearers is the American singer-songwriter Jo-Ann Kelly, a highly influential figure in the British blues scene of the 1960s and 70s. The name also shares its roots with the biblical figure Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel. While no major places are directly named after a Jo-Ann, the separate elements appear in countless place names worldwide, from Saint Anne to San Joaquin. The hyphenated form peaked in Scottish popularity during the 1970s, reflecting a broader trend for compound names in that era.