boy's name
Joao
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 7,498
Ireland
#434
as João, 2025
Joao is a boy's name with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 121 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Peaked in France in 1972, when 275 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in France.
- Today about 1 in 9,825 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1930.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Joao over time
Births per decade in France, 1930s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 10 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 365 |
| 1970s | 1,845 |
| 1980s | 335 |
| 1990s | 190 |
| 2000s | 365 |
| 2010s | 615 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 445 |
How popular is Joao?
In 2025, Joao was given to 60 babies in France, ranking #706 that year. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Joao is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
How Joao is spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Joâo | Joâo is a rare spelling of Joao, written with a circumflex and recorded about 75 times, mostly in France. | 75 |
| Joào | Joào is a rare spelling of Joao, written with a grave accent and recorded about 20 times, mostly in France. | 20 |
| João | João is a rare spelling of Joao, written with a tilde and recorded 11 times, mostly in Ireland. | 11 |
| Joäo | Joäo is a rare spelling of Joao, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 5 times, mostly in France. | 5 |
Names that peaked alongside Joao
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Joao also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Joao over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Sibling names for Joao
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Joao — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Joao
How popular is the name Joao?
In 2025, Joao was given to 60 babies in France, ranking #706 that year. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Joao a girl's or a boy's name?
Joao is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Joao?
Joao has 2 syllables.
When was Joao most popular?
Joao peaked in 1972, when 275 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Joao a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Joao currently ranks #434 in France. After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.