What is J.K. Rowling’s first given name?

J.K. Rowling’s first given name is Joanne.

She was born Joanne Rowling in 1965. The author became widely known as J.K. Rowling when Bloomsbury published the first Harry Potter book, although the initials were chosen partly for marketing reasons. Her publishers wanted a name that would not immediately indicate the author’s gender to potential readers.

Rowling did not originally have a middle name. The “K” in J.K. Rowling refers to Kathleen, the name of her paternal grandmother, and was adopted for her author identity. She has continued to use Joanne in personal and professional contexts, including the name of her production company, Brontë Film and Television, and public biographical references.

The name J.K. Rowling is distinct from Robert Galbraith, the pen name she used for crime fiction. Joanne remains Rowling’s first given name, while “Jo” is a commonly used short form.