Gianna
jee-AH-nuh /dʒiˈɑː.nə/
Meaning of Gianna
Gianna is the Italian feminine short form of Giovanni (John), ultimately from the Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yohanan): yo (a short form of Yahweh) + hanan ('gracious'). The full meaning is 'Yahweh is gracious.' The name entered mainstream American use through Italian-American families and received a significant cultural push when NBA star Kobe Bryant named his daughter Gianna Maria (Gigi).
How to pronounce Gianna
Two syllables in Italian: GIAN-na. American English uses three: jee-AH-nuh.
Current popularity of Gianna
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #13 |
| Italy (ISTAT) | 2024 | #21 |
Notable bearers of Gianna
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (Italian physician-saint, canonised 2004); Gianna Bryant.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Gianna — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31