What is the birth name of J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series?

The birth name of J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, is Joanne Rowling.

She was born Joanne Rowling on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. The initial “K” was not part of her birth name; it was added later for her publisher’s branding of the Harry Potter books.

Rowling has explained that the “K” represents Kathleen, her paternal grandmother’s name. Her publisher wanted a name that would appeal broadly to young readers, and the use of initials helped avoid making the author’s gender immediately obvious to prospective readers.

She is often called “Jo” by friends and family. “J.K. Rowling” became the professional name associated with Harry Potter, while her later crime novels were published under the name Robert Galbraith.