You’ve heard the name everywhere. Whether it's the "Leave (Get Out)" singer from the 2000s, the girl with the giant neon bows, or that anime character people keep making memes about, "JoJo" is one of those monikers that sticks. But honestly, it’s almost never the name on their birth certificate.
Most people just assume it’s a shortened version of Josephine or something simple. The reality is actually way more interesting and varies depending on which "JoJo" you are talking about. If you're trying to figure out what is jojo's real name, you have to look at three very specific people who own this title in the cultural zeitgeist.
The Pop Icon: Joelle Joanie Siwa
For a huge chunk of the internet, especially the TikTok crowd, JoJo is Joelle Joanie Siwa. She was born on May 19, 2003, in Omaha, Nebraska. Her parents, Jessalynn and Tom Siwa, didn’t actually name her JoJo. It was a nickname that took on a life of its own during her time on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms.
Recently, things have changed. As of January 2026, she’s been leaning heavily into her birth name. She even updated her social media bios to "Joelle Siwa." Fans noticed it immediately. It’s basically her "grown-up" era. Her boyfriend, Chris Hughes, has even been caught calling her "Joelle" or "Joseph" in public clips, which feels a lot more personal than the high-energy persona we saw during her Nickelodeon years.
The R&B Legend: Joanna Noëlle Levesque
Then you have the original JoJo. If you grew up in the early 2000s, you know her as the 13-year-old powerhouse who topped the charts. Her real name is Joanna Noëlle Levesque. Born in December 1990, she became the youngest solo artist to have a number-one single in the United States.
She’s spoken quite a bit about her name over the years. In her 2024 memoir, Over the Influence, she dives into the legal battles that kept her from using her own voice for years. For her, "JoJo" was a stage name given to her early on, but Joanna is who she is when the microphones are off. She even released her third album, Mad Love, after a decade-long hiatus caused by record label drama that’s now legendary in the music industry.
The Anime Mystery: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
This is where it gets kind of nerdy but super cool. In the world of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, there isn't just one "JoJo." It’s a title passed down through the Joestar family tree.
The name "JoJo" is a clever pun. It comes from taking the first two letters of the character’s first and last names. Check out how this works for the main protagonists:
- Jonathan Joestar (The OG)
- Joseph Joestar
- Jotaro Kujo (The "Jo" in Kujo is pronounced the same way)
- Jolyne Cujoh
- Jodio Joestar (The latest hero in Part 9)
Even Giorno Giovanna counts because, in Italian, the "Gio" can be phonetically treated as "Jo." It’s a brilliant branding move by the creator, Hirohiko Araki, that has kept the franchise alive for decades.
Why the Nickname Stays
People love short names. They’re punchy. They’re easy to remember. Whether it’s Joelle, Joanna, or Jonathan, the "JoJo" brand is basically a license to print money at this point.
If you are looking for the "real" JoJo right now, you're likely seeing Joelle Siwa's transition into a more mature artist. She’s dropping the bows, changing her TikTok handle, and making sure everyone knows that Joelle is the one calling the shots in 2026.
Next Steps for You
If you’re a fan of the music side, go check out Joanna Levesque’s latest Broadway work or her memoir—it’s a wild look at the industry. If you’re more into the pop culture side, keep an eye on Joelle Siwa’s TikTok for her upcoming 2026 projects; she’s hinted at a massive rebrand that goes way beyond just changing her name.