Gianna

Gianna is an Italian feminine given name functioning as a short form of Giovanna, itself the Italian equivalent of Johanna, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan meaning God is gracious. The name carries the long tradition of its Latin and Greek antecedents, entering widespread use through devotion to figures such as Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a twentieth-century Italian physician and martyr canonized by the Catholic Church. It has grown popular in English-speaking countries as a stand-alone name, favored for its melodic Italian sound. Related forms include Giovanna, Johanna, Joanna, Joan, and Jane.