About the name Jo

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If you like the name Jo, find out the meaning, origin, nicknames, variations and other information to help you decide if you want to use this first name for your baby.

Name meaning, variations & etymology

Common nickname or partial name for Mary Jo, Jo Lynn, Jo Ellen, etc.
Also a nickname for Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Josephine or Josephina
May be repeated as Jojo (as in the movie Jojo Rabbit)
Scottish poet Robert Burns used Jo to mean “dear” or “sweetheart”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary notes that it’s an alliteration of the word joy
In Hebrew, Jo is a feminine form of John, and means “God is gracious and merciful”
Common masculine version of the name is Joe, which is short for Joseph

ALSO SEE: Short 2-letter baby names for boys & girls

Famous people named Jo

1950s pop singer Jo Stafford
The UK’s Supernanny, Jo Frost
Jo Durie, former Wimbledon doubles champ
BBC 1 DJ Jo Whiley
Sci-fi author Jo Walton
Harry Potter book author JK Rowling goes by the name Jo

Characters named Jo

Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” heroine Jo March
The Facts of Life (1980s teen sitcom) lead Jo Polniaczek

origin/Nationality

Hebrew

Also check out these name groups

Girl names, Hebrew baby girl names, Names that start with J

baby Name length

See related baby names

baby girl names j, hebrew baby girl names, jo, joanne

FREE baby name printable

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