Joanne vs Laura - What's the difference?

As a proper noun joanne

is , a spelling variant of joanne.

(historical|roman catholic church) a number of hermitages or cells in the same neighborhood occupied by anchorites who were under the same superior.

* JoAnne, Jo-Anne, Jo Anne * Joann, JoAnn, Jo-Ann, Jo Ann

(en proper noun)

* 1824 , The History of Matthew Wald , E. Duyckinck, Collins & Hannay, page 112:

"I have," said I; "and I have seen the young ladies too, except Miss Joanne ."

"Ye may just as weel lay by the Miss, and ca' her Joan, like her mother afore her, noo -

* 1981 , Bodily Harm , Anchor Books, ISBN 0385491077, page 16:

She changed it when she was thirty-eight because, as she said, what can you do with a name like Joanne ? Too nice.

(wikipedia Laura)

* Lora (rare)

(en proper noun)

* ~1591 William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet : Act II, Scene IV:

Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in; Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to be-rime her;

* 1960 Peter S. Beagle: A Fine And Private Place . Random House Publishing, 1982:The Fantasy Worlds of Peter Beagle. ISBN 0345300815 page 258:

Laura was saying something. A mellifluous name, he thought. I wish she were far away, so I could call her.

* Also used as a feminine equivalent of Laurence.

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