Joana

Joana is a feminine given name, used in Portuguese, Catalan, Romanian and Spanish-speaking communities, among others. It is a variant of Joanna, with related forms such as Joan, Juana and Joann.

Derived from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious," the name traveled through Latin as Ioannes and Ioanna before taking the modern forms Joana, Joanna or Juana in various languages.

In usage, Joana is common in Portugal and Brazil, and is standard in Catalan-speaking regions. In Romania, the cognate Ioana is widely used, while Joana appears in some contexts. The name has biblical roots in the New Testament, where Joanna is described as a follower of Jesus (Luke 8:3), contributing to its Christian associations in many cultures.

Notable bearers include Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese contemporary artist, and Joana Maranhão, a Brazilian swimmer. Related names include Joanna, Joann, Jo-Anne and Jeanne, as well as Ioana in Romanian and Juana in Spanish.