Proper noun

1. A diminutive of the female given names Josephine, Joan or Joanna. Often used in conjoined names such as Jo Ann or Mary Jo.
2. A rare spelling variant of Joe, diminutive of Joseph.

Quotations

• 1853 Charles Dickens: Bleak House: Chapter XI:

  Name, Jo. Nothing else that he knows on. Don't know that everybody has two names. Never heerd of sich a think. Don't know that Jo is short for a a longer name. Thinks it long enough for him. He don't find no fault with it. Spell it? No. He can't spell it.

• 1888 Marietta Holley: Josiah Allen's Wife as a P.A. and P.I.: Samantha at the Centennial: page 577:

  "Its name is Samantha Jo, after Josiah and me. You know they call girls Jo and Josie a sight lately; its name is agreeable to Josiah and me, very.