Ioana is a Romanian feminine form of John, and also an alternate transcription of Bulgarian Йоана (see Yoana). The name derives from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious," composed of the elements yo (referring to the Hebrew God) and ḥanan ("to be gracious"). This name appears in the Old Testament as Jehohanan or Johanan, but gained widespread popularity due to two central figures in the New Testament: John the Baptist and John the Apostle. Ioana is thus the Romanian counterpart of Joan, Joanna, and similar forms across Europe.