Joni is a short form of Joan and Joanne, the feminine forms of John, and so means "God is gracious". Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, born Roberta Joan Anderson, is the name's defining bearer, and her renewed fame among younger listeners has helped the name. Joni stood at number 2266 in 2000, hovered around number 2200 to 2800 for most of the past decade and ranks 1803 in 2025, its best rank in this century.