Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. /ˈd͡ʒɑn/(American English) /ˈd͡ʒɒn/(British English) /ˈjɔn/(Swedish, Norwegian) /ˈd͡ʑɔn/(Dutch) /ˈʃɔn/(Dutch) /ˈʒɔn/(Dutch)  [key·simplify]

Meaning & History

English form of Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name Ἰωάννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yoḥanan). It means "Yahweh is gracious", from the roots יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious". The Hebrew form occurs in the Old Testament (spelled Johanan or Jehohanan in the English version), but this name owes its popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered saints. The first is John the Baptist, a Jewish ascetic who is considered the forerunner of Jesus. He baptized Jesus and was later executed by Herod Antipas. The second is the apostle John, who is traditionally regarded as the author of the fourth gospel and Revelation. With the apostles Peter and James (John's brother), he was part of the inner circle of Jesus.

This name was initially more common among Eastern Christians in the Byzantine Empire, but it flourished in Western Europe after the First Crusade. In England it became extremely popular, typically being the most common male name from the 13th to the 20th century (but sometimes outpaced by William). During the later Middle Ages it was given to approximately a fifth of all English boys. In the United States it was the most common name for boys until 1923.

The name (in various spellings) has been borne by 21 popes and eight Byzantine emperors, as well as rulers of England, France, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, Bulgaria, Russia and Hungary. It was also borne by the poet John Milton (1608-1674), philosopher John Locke (1632-1704), American founding father and president John Adams (1735-1826), and poet John Keats (1795-1821). Famous bearers of the 20th century include author John Steinbeck (1902-1968), assassinated American president John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), and musician John Lennon (1940-1980).

The forms Ian (Scottish), Sean (Irish) and Evan (Welsh) have also been frequently used in the English-speaking world, as has the medieval diminutive Jack.

Related Names

VariantsJon(English) Jan, Johan, Johannes, Jon(Swedish) Jan, Jens, Johan, Johannes, Jon(Danish) Jan, Johan, Johannes, Jon(Norwegian) Jan, Johan, Johannes(Dutch)
DiminutivesJohnie, Johnnie, Johnny(English)
Feminine FormsJohnna, Johna(English)
Other Languages & CulturesGjon(Albanian) Yohannes(Amharic) Yahya, Yuhanna(Arabic) Hovhannes, Hovik, Hovo, Ohannes(Armenian) Xuan(Asturian) Ion, Jon, Ganix, Iban, Juantxo(Basque) Ivan, Yan(Belarusian) Ioannes(Biblical Greek) Yehochanan, Yochanan(Biblical Hebrew) Iohannes(Biblical Latin) Yann, Yanick, Yannic, Yannick, Yannig(Breton) Ioan, Ivan, Yoan, Ivo, Vancho, Yanko(Bulgarian) Joan, Jan(Catalan) Jowan(Cornish) Ghjuvan, Ghjuvanni(Corsican) Ivan, Ivica, Ivo, Janko, Vanja(Croatian) Ivan, Jan, Hanuš, Honza, Janek(Czech) Johano, Joĉjo(Esperanto) Ivan, Jaan, Johannes, Juhan, Ants, Hannes, Janek(Estonian) Jóannes, Jógvan, Jóhannes, Jón(Faroese) Jone(Fijian) Jani, Johannes, Joni, Jouni, Juhana, Juhani, Hannes, Hannu, Janne, Juha, Juho, Jukka, Jussi(Finnish) Jean, Yann, Yoan, Yoann, Yohan, Yohann, Yvan, Jeannot, Yan, Yanick, Yanis, Yannick(French) Xan, Xoán(Galician) Ivane, Ioane, Vano(Georgian) Jan, Johann, Johannes, Hannes, Hans, Hänsel, Jo(German) Giannis, Ioannis, Yannis, Yiannis, Gianis, Yanis, Yanni, Yianni(Greek) Keoni(Hawaiian) Yochanan(Hebrew) Iván, János, Jancsi, Jani(Hungarian) Jens, Jóhann, Jóhannes, Jón, Hannes(Icelandic) Yahya, Yohanes(Indonesian) Eoin, Seán, Sean, Shane(Irish) Giovanni, Ivan, Ivano, Gian, Gianni, Giannino, Giò, Nino, Vanni(Italian) Johannes, Joannes(Late Roman) Ivans, Jānis(Latvian) Sjang, Sjeng(Limburgish) Hansel(Literature) Jonas(Lithuanian) Ivan, Jovan, Ivo, Jovica, Vancho, Vančo(Macedonian) Yahya(Malay) Ġwann(Maltese) Ean, Juan(Manx) Hann, Jan, Jon, Hankin, Jackin, Jankin(Medieval English) Jehan(Medieval French) Zuan(Medieval Italian) Joan(Occitan) Yahya(Persian) Jin(Picard) Iwan, Jan, Janek, Janusz(Polish) Ivan, João, Joãozinho(Portuguese) Ioan, Ion, Ivan, Iancu, Ionel, Ionuț, Nelu(Romanian) Ioann, Ivan, Vanya(Russian) Juhán(Sami) Sione(Samoan) Giuanne, Juanne(Sardinian) Ian(Scottish) Eòin, Iain(Scottish Gaelic) Ivan, Jovan, Ivica, Ivo, Janko, Jovica, Vanja(Serbian) Ivan, Ján, Janko(Slovak) Ivan, Jan, Janez, Žan, Anže, Anžej, Ivo, Janko, Vanja(Slovene) Jan(Sorbian) Iván, Juan, Ibán, Juancho, Juanito(Spanish) Jhon, Jhonny(Spanish (Latin American)) Sione(Tongan) Yahya(Turkish) Ivan(Ukrainian) Djan, Djhan, Djihan(Walloon) Evan, Ieuan, Ioan, Siôn, Ianto, Iefan, Ifan, Iwan(Welsh)
Surname DescendantsJohnsen(Danish) John, Johns, Johnson, St John(English) Johnsen(Norwegian) Johnsson(Swedish)
Place Name DescendantSt John(English)

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   common   natural   wholesome   strong   refined   boring   simple   serious  

Name Days

Austria: March 10
Sweden: May 3

Images

Saint John the Evangelist, by Alonso Cano (1636)Saint John the Evangelist, by Alonso Cano (1636)
Icon depicting Saint John the BaptistIcon depicting Saint John the Baptist

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Entry updated December 1, 2024