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Jo

Girl name · 133 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Jo: 133 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 10 births in 1994.

Jo began as a friendly short form of Josephine or Joanna, both rooted in the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning “God will add” or “God increases.” The name gained literary fame through Jo March, the spirited writer in Louisa May Alcott’s *Little Women*, and later through the comedian Jo Brand, known for her dry wit and television appearances. While no major places directly share the name, its simple two-letter form has made it a popular unisex nickname across the English-speaking world. In Scotland, Jo has been a consistent choice for baby girls, often given as a standalone name rather than a diminutive, reflecting a modern preference for concise, friendly names that feel both familiar and distinctive.