Gianna
Meaning of Gianna
Gianna is an Italian feminine name meaning God is gracious. It derives from Giovanni, the Italian form of John, and is generally treated as a short form of Giovanna, the feminine equivalent of Giovanni. Both names go back to the Hebrew Yochanan. The origin and meaning are not disputed. It is a common name in Italy and among families of Italian heritage.
In Italian, Gianna is pronounced JAH-nah. English speakers commonly say jee-AH-nuh.
The best-known namesake is Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (1922–1962), the Italian pediatrician canonized in 2004. She refused abortion and a hysterectomy during her fourth pregnancy to protect her child and died soon after giving birth; her feast day is April 28. Gianna Jessen, an American anti-abortion activist who survived a failed abortion, is another namesake.
Its use in the United States was modest for decades before a sharp rise in the 1990s and 2000s. Gianna reached its highest rank, 13th, in 2020 and again in 2021, after climbing from 240th in 2000. The name remained in the top 25 through 2024, then slipped to 33rd in 2025, when 5,634 baby girls received it.
Pronunciation
Italian
- Pronunced as jah-nah (/ˌdʒɑːnə/)
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Notable People Named Gianna
| Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian Catholic pediatrician who, despite life-threatening risks, refused abortion and hysterectomy during her fourth pregnancy to save her child. |
| Gianna Jessen is an American anti abortion activist who survived a failed instillation abortion and whose life loosely inspired the 2011 film October Baby. |
| Gianna Simone is an American actress, model, and producer known for roles in Star Trek Into Darkness, Mothers Day, I Can Only Imagine, Unbroken Path to Redemption, and several TV series. |
| Gianna Woodruff is a US born 400 meter hurdler for Panama who set a South American record of 54.22 in the Tokyo 2020 semifinals and finished seventh in the final. |
