Joao Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Joao is a Portuguese name that originates from the Latin 'Iohannes', which itself comes from the Hebrew 'Yohanan', meaning 'God is gracious'. The name has evolved through various languages, including Old French, before becoming prominent in Portuguese. It is associated with traits of grace and nobility and has no specific biblical relevance. Joao has been popular since the Middle Ages, particularly in Portuguese-speaking regions, and remains a favored choice today.
The name Joao is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Joao has been too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Joao' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4708th out of 7545 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2307th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2798th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2469th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2071st out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Joao' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Joao"
Pronunciation
/ʒuˈaʊ/
Origin
Portuguese
Etymology
Joao is derived from the Latin name 'Iohannes', which comes from the Hebrew name 'Yohanan', meaning 'God is gracious'.
Meaning
God is gracious
Language Evolution
Yohanan (Hebrew), Iohannes (Latin), Johannes (Old French), João (Portuguese)
Historical Usage
Joao has been a common name in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly in Portugal and Brazil, since the Middle Ages, often linked to various kings and saints.
Variants & Derivatives
Joãozinho, Jo, John
Modern Popularity & Image
Joao is a widely used name in Portuguese-speaking cultures and often carries a positive connotation of grace and nobility.
Famous People
João Gilberto, João Pessoa, João Mário
Explore More Joao Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Joao"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Joao"
"Joao" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4708th of 7545 | 39 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2307th of 10718 | 274 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2798th of 16616 | 344 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2469th of 24088 | 727 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2071st of 23106 | 841 |
Regional Popularity of "Joao" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
76.21% 1051st/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
27.56% 960th/3483 |
- |
40.01% 1618th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
40.63% 1818th/4475 |
- |
34.15% 2157th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
22.70% 1172nd/5164 |
33.27% 2433rd/7313 |
29.80% 2224th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
26.34% 1182nd/4487 |
28.10% 1917th/6822 |
29.14% 1829th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Joao" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Joao"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Joao" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.