J.K. Rowling’s first name, as recorded on her birth certificate, is Joanne.
She was born Joanne Rowling on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. The initial “K” in her pen name does not represent a second birth name: it was chosen by her publisher and stands for Kathleen, her paternal grandmother’s name.
Rowling has explained that she used initials partly because publishers believed some young male readers might avoid books written by a woman. Her name therefore became one of the most recognizable author brands in modern children’s literature.
A common mix-up is assuming that “K” was part of her original full name. It was added for publication, while “Joanne” is her documented first name. She married Neil Murray in 2001 and has also published crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.