The first name Joao
A boy’s name from Portuguese.
Pronounced /d͡ʒoʊˈaʊ/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Portuguese origin
Borrowed from Portuguese João. Doublet of John.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 25 boys were named Joao, making it the 1,153rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2007, with 39 births (#711).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Joao with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Joao at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 121 boys born in the United States were named Joao, the 1,471st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 135 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Joao
121 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- João HavelangeBrazilian businessman and athlete (1916–2016)
- João FigueiredoBrazilian politician and military officer, 30th President of Brazil from 1979 to 1985
- João Carlos dos SantosBrazilian association football player, born 1972
- João Braz de AvizCatholic cardinal, born 1947
- João Victor Gomes da SilvaBrazilian association football player, born 2001
- João de NóvoaGalician explorer, Navigator and Politician, 1450–1509
- João RicardoAngolan footballer, born 1970
- João Ubaldo RibeiroBrazilian author (1941-2014)
- João Gonçalves ZarcoExplorer, 1390–1471
- João SchmidtBrazilian association football player, born 1993
- Joao RojasEcuadorian footballer, born 1989
- João Cabral de Melo NetoBrazilian writer (1920-1999)
Questions
- What does the name Joao mean?
- Borrowed from Portuguese João. Doublet of John.
- What is the origin of the name Joao?
- Borrowed from Portuguese João. Doublet of John.
- How popular is the name Joao?
- In 2025, 25 boys born in England and Wales were named Joao, ranking 1,153rd. Its peak was 2007, with 39 births.
- Is Joao a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 2,353 US babies named Joao since 1880 were boys.
- When was Joao most popular?
- 2024 in the United States, when 135 babies were named Joao, its highest rank at 1,391st.
- How do you pronounce Joao?
- Joao is /d͡ʒoʊˈaʊ/, 2 syllables.