What is the full name of the British author known by the pen name J.K. Rowling?

The British author known by the pen name J.K. Rowling was born Joanne Rowling.

Rowling was born on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. Her parents were Peter Rowling and Anne Rowling, and she has a younger sister, Dianne. The middle initial in “J.K.” was not originally part of her birth name. Her publishers wanted a name that might appeal broadly to young readers, so Rowling used “J.K. Rowling,” with the K standing for Kathleen, her paternal grandmother’s name.

Rowling later married Neil Murray and has used the name Joanne Murray in some legal and personal contexts. She also writes crime fiction under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. That pseudonym is separate from the initials used for the Harry Potter books.

The author is often called “Jo,” a nickname she has used publicly. Her name is therefore sometimes confused with the initials of a middle name, but her birth name was Joanne Rowling.