Johanna

/dʒoʊˈænə/ noun

Definition

a female given name, often related to the masculine name John.

Etymology

From Hebrew 'Yohanan,' meaning 'God is gracious.' It became Johanna through Greek 'Ioannes' and Latin 'Ioanna,' spreading through Christian Europe.

Kelly Says

Johanna and John share the same Hebrew root, but Johanna had less power historically because it's the female form—even naming patterns reflect gender hierarchies baked into ancient languages. Joan of Arc's name was literally 'the female John.'

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