Jo
Jo is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious; he will add.
Origin and history
Jo is a short form traditionally used as a standalone name or as an abbreviation for names such as Josephine, Joan, or Joanne. Its Hebrew roots ultimately link it to meanings like 'God is gracious' or 'he will add'. Historically popular in the early-to-mid 20th century in the United States, it is now less common as an independent given name.
Popularity in the United States
179,057 babies in the United States have been named Jo since 1880. It ranks #223 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1871.
States where it is most popular
- TX (11 %)
- NY (7 %)
- CA (5.4 %)
- OH (4.8 %)
- IL (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 69 |
| 1890-1900 | 140 |
| 1900-1910 | 311 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,192 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,896 |
| 1930-1940 | 28,653 |
| 1940-1950 | 48,449 |
| 1950-1960 | 63,939 |
| 1960-1970 | 20,197 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,918 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,985 |
| 1990-2000 | 609 |
| 2000-2010 | 223 |
| 2010-2019 | 246 |
| 2020-2029 | 230 |
Famous people named Jo
- Jo Stafford: Singer
- Jo Van Fleet: Actress
Fun facts
- Jo March is the famous headstrong protagonist of Louisa May Alcott's classic 1868 novel 'Little Women'.
- Jo was frequently given as an independent legal first name for girls in the U.S. during the 1930s through 1950s.