Meaning & History
Johnna is a rare feminine form of the male name John. It was first recorded in English-speaking countries in the 18th century, though it has never achieved widespread popularity. The name Johnna derives from the same ultimate source as John: the Hebrew name Yoḥanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious,” from the elements yo, referring to the Hebrew God, and ḥanan, meaning “to be gracious.”
In structure, Johnna adds a feminine suffix -a, paralleling other English feminine forms of masculine names, such as Joanna (still a separate name) or the variant Johna. Onomastic usage distinguishes Johnna from related forms like Johnnie and Johnie, which have often served as diminutives or gender-neutral nicknames. In terms of cognates, Johnna can be compared to other feminine equivalents of John in various languages, for example, the Polish Joanna and the Greek Ioanna, though English developed Johnna independently.
The name’s rarity may be due to the long-standing dominance of the male form John as well as the existence of more established feminine variants, such as Jane, Joan, and Joanna. Nonetheless, Johnna continues to appear sporadically in English-speaking regions as a distinctive choice.
- Meaning: “Yahweh is gracious”
- Origin: English feminine form of John
- Type: Given name (feminine)
- Usage regions: English-speaking countries
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Johnna