How old is someone named Joan?
The average Joan is 73 years old.
Half of all living Joans are between 67 and 84.
When was Joan popular?
Parents have been choosing Joan less often since its peak in 1932; 454 babies got the name in 2025.
Popular names of 1932 · The most popular names of the 1930s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 868 | 0 |
| 1910s | 7,094 | 0 |
| 1920s | 45,605 | 1,400 |
| 1930s | 174,219 | 36,000 |
| 1940s | 118,156 | 65,000 |
| 1950s | 85,452 | 66,000 |
| 1960s | 36,897 | 32,000 |
| 1970s | 6,620 | 6,200 |
| 1980s | 3,547 | 3,400 |
| 1990s | 2,477 | 2,400 |
| 2000s | 2,809 | 2,800 |
| 2010s | 2,566 | 2,500 |
| 2020s | 2,241 | 2,200 |
How many Joans are still alive?
About 220,000 Joans are alive in the US today. That's 45% of the roughly 490,000 babies named Joan since 1880.
Roughly half of all Joans ever born are still living.
What generation is the name Joan?
About half of living Joans are Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964.
Is Joan an old name?
Yes. Joan is older than 99 in 100 names on AgeByName.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Joan will be 57 in 2056, so its average age will actually fall, as the youngest Joans make up more of the total.
Is Joan a boy or girl name?
Mostly girls: 97.2% of living Joans are women.
Names the same age as Joan
NAME TWIN
Joan's name twin is Lois. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Lois's age curve is the closest match to Joan's: 94% alike.
Compare: Joan vs. Joanne
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Questions about the name Joan
How old is the average Joan?
The average Joan in the US is 73 years old. The median is 75, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Joan?
About 220,000 Joans are alive in the US today, out of roughly 490,000 babies given the name since 1880.
When was the name Joan most popular?
In 1932, when about 21,000 baby girls were named Joan.
Is Joan a Boomer name?
Yes. About 52% of living Joans are Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this