Johanna

Johanna is mostly the German, Dutch and Scandinavian form of Joan/Joanna (the English/Latinate female equivalent of John). The Latin Iohannes (John) and Iohanna (Joanna) are ultimately derived from the Hebrew “Yochanan” meaning “Yahweh is gracious” or “God is merciful, generous” (the name John first appears in the Old Testament in the person of one of King David’s mighty men). The New Testament Johns (i.e., the Baptist and the Apostle) carry a lot of importance among Christians which is how and why this name has not only survived, but indeed is probably the most successful masculine personal name in the history of Western Civilization. However, separately, Joanna is a name borne from the Bible in her own right as well. She shows up variously in the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles as one of the very few women specifically named as “ministering women” who accompany Jesus on his travels. “And with him were the Twelve and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmaries: Mary, called Magdalene, from who seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, wife Chuza, (king) Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their means.” (Luke 8:2-3). These women are also mentioned in Luke 24:10-11 as having witnessed the resurrection, but when they initially described the events to the apostles, they were not believed. It could therefore be argued that Joanna was among the quickest of hearts to believe in Jesus as Christ. This would undoubtedly make Joanna an extremely significant name among the Christians. Johanna is currently most popular in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Norway and the Netherlands. Hanna is a possible nickname (although the two names are unrelated).