Most people named Joanna keep their name day on January 7, the feast of John the Baptist. The Orthodox calendar has 1 other feast for the name.
Every feast on which Joanna is celebrated
| New Calendar | Feast | Old Calendar (civil date) |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | John the Baptist | January 20 |
| June 27 | Joanna the Myrrhbearer | July 10 |
The saints behind the name

John the Baptist
January 7, Great Feast, Ιωάννης ο Πρόδρομος
On the day after Theophany, the Church gathers to honor St. John the Forerunner and Baptist, the greatest of the prophets, who was found worthy to baptize the Lord in the Jordan. Son of the priest Zacharias and the righteous Elizabeth, John lived in the wilderness in fasting and prayer, preaching repentance and preparing the way of the Lord.
Name days: Ioannis, Giannis, Yiannis, Yannis, Yanni, Giovanni, John, Jean, Juan, Ivan, Vanya, Yianni, Gianni, Giannakis, Prodromos, Johnny, Ioanna, Gianna, Yianna, Giannoula, Joanna, Joanne, Joan
Joanna the Myrrhbearer
June 27, Holy Woman, Ιωάννα η Μυροφόρος
Saint Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the steward of Herod Antipas. The Gospel of Luke names her among the women who followed Christ and ministered to Him from their means, and among the myrrhbearers who found the tomb empty on the morning of the Resurrection.
Name days: Ioanna, Joanna, Gianna, Yianna, Joanne, Joan, Jane, Zanna, Yanna, Giannoula
Also celebrating on January 7
These names share the feast, many of them other forms of the same name:
Ioannis, Giannis, Yiannis, Yannis, Yanni, Giovanni, John, Jean, Juan, Ivan, Vanya, Yianni, Gianni, Giannakis, Prodromos, Johnny, Ioanna, Gianna, Yianna, Giannoula, Joanne, Joan
What to say on a name day
The Greek wish is Χρόνια Πολλά (Chronia Polla), “many years.” A call or a short message on the day is what people remember. See name day wishes you can send and what a name day is.