What is J.K. Rowling’s full birth name?

J.K. Rowling’s full birth name is Joanne Rowling.

She was born Joanne Rowling on 31 July 1965. The name Kathleen was later added as part of her professional author name, J.K. Rowling; Kathleen was the name of her paternal grandmother. Rowling has explained that she did not originally have a middle name.

The initials were chosen partly because her publisher believed that a name with two initials might appeal to a broad readership, including boys who might be less likely to pick up a book by a woman author. The “K” therefore does not represent a middle name given at birth.

Rowling also writes crime novels under the pen name Robert Galbraith. That name is separate from her birth name and from J.K. Rowling, although the author’s identity was later revealed. Joanne Rowling should not be confused with Jo Murray, the surname she used during her first marriage.