Gia

Gia is an Italian feminine name functioning as a short form of Gianna, itself the Italian feminine equivalent of Giovanni, which derives from the Latin Iohannes and ultimately from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning God is gracious. Though rare as a standalone name in Italy, it gained broader recognition in the English-speaking world partly through the American model Gia Carangi, whose life brought the name into public consciousness in the 1980s. Related forms include Gianna, Giovanna, and the international cognates Jane, Jean, and Joan.