The first name of the author who wrote the Harry Potter novels, published under the name J.K. Rowling, is Joanne.
Rowling was born Joanne Rowling on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. The initials in her pen name do not represent a middle name: her publishers wanted a name that might appeal to a broad audience, and “K” was added in honor of her paternal grandmother, Kathleen.
Rowling has also published crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The name Joanne is sometimes confused with “Jo,” a nickname she has used publicly, but Joanne is the author’s given name. Her official author identity is therefore distinct from both her familiar nickname and her later pseudonym.
The Harry Potter books made Rowling one of the world’s best-known contemporary authors, while her earlier life included work as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International.