Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
John is an alias used by Omen from Valorant.
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Ofc who could forget good old John lennon?
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Honestly kind of a nothingburger of a name. Not bad, but just okay. Non-English variants like Ian, Sean, or Johannes are top-tier for me though.
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The Dutch pronunciation that is currently featured is based on the British English pronunciation of John, i.e. it is the Dutch approximation of the BE pronunciation.
The Dutch phonetical spelling of /ˈd͡ʑɔn/ is Djon. A small number of Dutch parents have actually used that spelling on their sons, in order to ensure that the name will always be pronounced in that way... rather than in one of the other two ways that are common in the Dutch-speaking world.
Yes, that's right - there are two other pronunciations for John in the Dutch-speaking world. One is northwestern Dutch (possibly with some Frisian influence), whilst the other is based on the French pronunciation of John: [noted -ed]
• /'ʃɔn/ → spelled phonetically as Sjon in Dutch
• /'ʒɔn/ → spelled phonetically as Zjon in Dutch
The French-based pronunciation is the standard pronunciation in Flanders (Belgium) and the south of the Netherlands (specifically the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant). This is because these parts have historically been more exposed to the French language and culture than the rest of the Dutch-speaking world.
The two pronunciations listed above are also the oldest: they were used at least as early as the 1880s, as that is when the name John was already used occasionally in the Dutch-speaking world. That's long before the post-war period of World War II, which is when English names gained much greater exposure in Belgium and the Netherlands. This exposure includes the original English pronunciation of these names, which means that the English-based pronunciation of John is actually a fairly recent development in the Dutch-speaking world. As a consequence, this pronunciation is most common amongst the younger generations; the older generations are more likely to use the Dutch or French-based pronunciation instead.
With that said, here is a general collection of 50+ audio clips of native Dutch speakers saying the name:
• https://nl.forvo.com/search/John/nl/ (in Dutch)
And here you can specifically listen to the northwestern Dutch pronunciation ("Sjon"):
• https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/John (in Dutch)
• https://youtu.be/_B7BZSdsnC4 (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:01)
Here are video clips of the French-based pronunciation ("Zjon"), as it is said in the southern Dutch provinces of Limburg and North Brabant:
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/0J_sO0CkWvo (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:02)
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/lFDYMQ7u-7g (in Dutch and Limburgish; the name is said at 0:15)
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/NeMM7sC90B0 (in Dutch and Limburgish; the name is said at 0:16)
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/UnfKZpQvEeo (in Dutch and Limburgish; the name is said at 0:28 and 1:33 and 1:36 and 1:57)
• North Brabant: https://youtu.be/bgoQplPbNh4 (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:00 and 0:09)
And here is the French-based pronunciation ("Zjon") as it occurs in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium:
• https://youtu.be/Ck2200hct5w (in Dutch; the name is said at 2:13 and 2:14)
• https://youtu.be/_NHpX_6NzD8 (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:05)
• https://youtu.be/pznJySMa3gM (in Dutch; the name is said at 4:10)
• https://youtu.be/JcSGsYlPuCM (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:31)
Lastly, here is a video clip featuring an elderly Dutch bearer of the name; he was 88 years old at the time (first half of 2024):
• https://youtu.be/QzVW6i04r0Q (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:09 and 0:19 and 1:33 and 2:08)
Other relevant sources regarding the pronunciation of John:
• https://li.wiktionary.org/wiki/John (in Limburgish)
• https://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/5312314 (in English)
• https://forum.scholieren.com/showthread.php?t=539014 (in Dutch)
• the comment that I wrote here in this comment section on 11 January 2013.
1
The Dutch phonetical spelling of /ˈd͡ʑɔn/ is Djon. A small number of Dutch parents have actually used that spelling on their sons, in order to ensure that the name will always be pronounced in that way... rather than in one of the other two ways that are common in the Dutch-speaking world.
Yes, that's right - there are two other pronunciations for John in the Dutch-speaking world. One is northwestern Dutch (possibly with some Frisian influence), whilst the other is based on the French pronunciation of John: [noted -ed]
• /'ʃɔn/ → spelled phonetically as Sjon in Dutch
• /'ʒɔn/ → spelled phonetically as Zjon in Dutch
The French-based pronunciation is the standard pronunciation in Flanders (Belgium) and the south of the Netherlands (specifically the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant). This is because these parts have historically been more exposed to the French language and culture than the rest of the Dutch-speaking world.
The two pronunciations listed above are also the oldest: they were used at least as early as the 1880s, as that is when the name John was already used occasionally in the Dutch-speaking world. That's long before the post-war period of World War II, which is when English names gained much greater exposure in Belgium and the Netherlands. This exposure includes the original English pronunciation of these names, which means that the English-based pronunciation of John is actually a fairly recent development in the Dutch-speaking world. As a consequence, this pronunciation is most common amongst the younger generations; the older generations are more likely to use the Dutch or French-based pronunciation instead.
With that said, here is a general collection of 50+ audio clips of native Dutch speakers saying the name:
• https://nl.forvo.com/search/John/nl/ (in Dutch)
And here you can specifically listen to the northwestern Dutch pronunciation ("Sjon"):
• https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/John (in Dutch)
• https://youtu.be/_B7BZSdsnC4 (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:01)
Here are video clips of the French-based pronunciation ("Zjon"), as it is said in the southern Dutch provinces of Limburg and North Brabant:
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/0J_sO0CkWvo (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:02)
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/lFDYMQ7u-7g (in Dutch and Limburgish; the name is said at 0:15)
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/NeMM7sC90B0 (in Dutch and Limburgish; the name is said at 0:16)
• Limburg: https://youtu.be/UnfKZpQvEeo (in Dutch and Limburgish; the name is said at 0:28 and 1:33 and 1:36 and 1:57)
• North Brabant: https://youtu.be/bgoQplPbNh4 (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:00 and 0:09)
And here is the French-based pronunciation ("Zjon") as it occurs in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium:
• https://youtu.be/Ck2200hct5w (in Dutch; the name is said at 2:13 and 2:14)
• https://youtu.be/_NHpX_6NzD8 (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:05)
• https://youtu.be/pznJySMa3gM (in Dutch; the name is said at 4:10)
• https://youtu.be/JcSGsYlPuCM (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:31)
Lastly, here is a video clip featuring an elderly Dutch bearer of the name; he was 88 years old at the time (first half of 2024):
• https://youtu.be/QzVW6i04r0Q (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:09 and 0:19 and 1:33 and 2:08)
Other relevant sources regarding the pronunciation of John:
• https://li.wiktionary.org/wiki/John (in Limburgish)
• https://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/5312314 (in English)
• https://forum.scholieren.com/showthread.php?t=539014 (in Dutch)
• the comment that I wrote here in this comment section on 11 January 2013.
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This name is so overused 😭😭🙏.
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Coming from someone NAMED John, this name sucks. It's like the Emily of male names. My parents were gonna name me Harley Davidson, which I would prefer.
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Nobody gonna mention Jon Bongiovi?
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Probably the most overused and unoriginal name in history. That said, it is still a pretty safe name choice that you can't go wrong with. I'd much rather name my son John than to name him Hayden, Brayden or Jayden.
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JOHN YATES is an infamous American MURDERED child. He was drowned to death by his highly religious mother, Andrea Yates, in 2001.
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John Samuel Yates was born on December 15, 1995. John passed away on June 20, 2001, at the age of 5 years old. John and his 4 siblings (Noah, Paul, Luke, and Mary) were intentionally drowned by their mother, Andrea Pia Yates, in the bathtub of their family home located at 942 Beachcomber Lane, Houston, TX 77062. This horrific crime made national news.
John Yates is buried in Forest Park East Cemetery located at 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, TX 77598.
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John Yates is buried in Forest Park East Cemetery located at 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, TX 77598.
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What do you call an unknown pizza maker in America?
John Dough.
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John Dough.
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I really like this. It’s strong and a classic. I do have a preference for Jonathan, but John is great too.
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I’m frankly shocked that no one has mentioned American business magnate and co-founder of Standard Oil John D. Rockefeller, arguably the wealthiest American of all time (although I suppose with all the innumerable Johns throughout history some are easy to overlook).
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I am genuinely astonished at the fact that no one has mentioned English teacher, John Keating (portrayed beautifully by the gifted Robin Williams) in Dead Poets Society.
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Reminds me of John Kramer. Really liked that guy.
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A classic name. 100% W.
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John is very overused, but it will always be a classic.
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John Grisham is an American author and lawyer who is known for his thrilling legal novels, such as The Firm, The Rainmaker, and A Time to Kill. Many of his novels (including all three of the listed) have been adapted into films.
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Sir Elton John is a globally renowned, legendary musician.
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I think of John 5, the guitarist. Awesome name.
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A great one. Handsome.
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John Pork.
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Incredibly plain and basic, but totally badass and timeless.
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John is the most basic name in the entire universe, as soon as I think of a name, I think John. It sucks and I hate it.
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I think this name is very plain, but not bad or unlikeable. Brings to mind John Egbert from Homestuck. I think it's nice :)
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John Kundereri "Jumbana" Moriarty, AM, is an Aboriginal Australian artist, government advisor and former soccer player. He is also known as founder of the Balarinji Design Studio, for painting two Qantas jets with Aboriginal motifs. In 1960, Moriarty was the first recognised Indigenous Australian to be selected for a national soccer team.
Today a full member of the Yanyuwa people of his birthplace, and belonging ceremonially to the rainbow serpent and kangaroo Dreamings, Moriarty has held senior and executive positions in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs at both federal and state government levels. He is a long-time advocate for Indigenous rights and Indigenous arts.
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Today a full member of the Yanyuwa people of his birthplace, and belonging ceremonially to the rainbow serpent and kangaroo Dreamings, Moriarty has held senior and executive positions in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs at both federal and state government levels. He is a long-time advocate for Indigenous rights and Indigenous arts.
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John Carlos is an American former track and field athlete and professional American football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he displayed the Black Power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith. He went on to tie the world record in the 100-yard dash and beat the 200 meters world record (although the latter achievement was never certified). After his track career, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Canadian Football League but retired due to injury.
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John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.
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Italian-American mobsters John Joseph "The Dapper Don" Gotti and his son John Angelo "Junior" Gotti were both bosses in New York's Gambino Crime Family.
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I'm surprised no one mentioned the sweet John Coffey (played beautifully by Michael Duncan) in The Green Mile.
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John Dolmayan (Armenian: Ճոն Տոլմայեան; born July 15, 1972) is an American musician of Armenian descent, best known as the drummer of System of a Down. He is also the drummer for the band Indicator and former drummer for Scars on Broadway.
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Most people in the old days were named this because it was much more common to be named after parents, causing domino effects literally everywhere. It's still a good and safe name.
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Johnny Marr (born John Martin Maher, 31 October 1963) is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerous other bands and embarked on a solo career.
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John will always be a classic name. Also, how interesting that it used to be used as a feminine name.
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John F Kennedy, it reminds me of.
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Decent name because it cuts straight to the point. One syllable masculine names are generally very attractive.
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I find it funny how everyone keeps calling John overused and boring, but James is considered a good classic name when it's always been tied or almost tied with John in popularity.
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The name, John, has a timeless appeal that denies it the status of being “dated” regardless of the century one may be living under. A classic gem that never truly goes out of style like many other names have been.
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Was #1 in popularity until 1922. Then it started to drop. I feel like this name is gonna be dated in the next century or so...
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John Herrington is a retired United States Naval Aviator, engineer and former NASA astronaut. In 2002, Herrington became the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space.
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John is a nice name, even if it is very overused. At least it actually fits a grown man too.
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This is my name, I like it, I prefer have my name 'John' instead ok like Bob for example, kinda obvious, but just because it may look basic, if you look in the history of this name, it's unique.
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My father's name but I really like it. It'll never be old fashioned or boring, no matter how long ago this name dates back.
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John Newfong (1943 – 1999) was an Aboriginal Australian journalist and writer. A descendant of the Ngugi people of Moreton Bay, he was the first Aboriginal person to be employed as a journalist in the mainstream print media in Australia.
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It seems to be not a soul has mentioned John Green. The famous author who has a very popular book named The Fault Of Our Stars.
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John Cena (Wrestler), John Stamos (Actor), John F. Kennedy (US President), John Legend (Singer), and John Travolta (Actor).
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Boring old-fashioned name with too many negative associations. Nowadays John is another word for the bathroom. It's also what people call a man who hires a hooker. A Dear John letter is what you get when your girlfriend dumps you.
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A bit overused and wouldn't really suit for a child, meanwhile I think it would be great for a teen character on a show.
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I like this name. It's simple, easy to spell, and it ages very well. If you live in an English-speaking country, chances are you'll meet multiple people named John in your life. It's a true classic.
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AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CENA! (Cena theme plays)
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John Zachary DeLorean (1925-2005) was the founder of the DeLorean Motor Company. Before that, he worked for General Motors for several years.
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John is my name. I really like it! A lot of people say it's too basic or boring but I really don't think so. I like my name, I think it's unique because a lot of parents don't use 'John' as a first name now.
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Popular names like this shouldn't be in the ballot for Name of the Day. Popular names like this are the name of the day *every* day. Give more attention to uncommon names.
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Obviously boring.
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John Linnell and John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants.
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John Cena, hell ya.
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John is better than Johnathan and Jon.
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I love it. I don’t really care about how common it is, it’s a marvelous name.
By naming your son John you are giving him a gift - a beloved classic, shared by countless wonderful men throughout history - and one that will suit him all through life.
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By naming your son John you are giving him a gift - a beloved classic, shared by countless wonderful men throughout history - and one that will suit him all through life.
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A timeless, great name, and the spelling is nice. It's the name of St. John the Apostle and other saints. Looking at this simple name with a pious perspective, we can overcome the boredom that it can cause for being so common. After all, names should be given out of piety, instead of being treated like fashion accessories.
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John Jackson Sparkman was a United States Representative, and later Senator, from Alabama. He was Adlai Stevenson’s running mate in the 1952 presidential election.
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Love, love the name. Yes, over time it's more common than current trendy boy names. I did not specifically name my son after family members, but I did like that the name was in both my family tree and my husband's. I am sure I could find examples of several men named John I don't think much of if I tried, but I also love the name because I've known great friends and impressive people with the name as well.
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You simply could not pick a more simple, average name. If you willingly name your child "John", then you are not fit to be a parent. Please pick any other name than "John" or "Joe" unless you want your child to be a nobody.
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I think Joseph/Joe are just fine. Def not John tho.
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John Ronald Simm is a British actor. He played Seventies-trapped Woobie Sam Tyler in Life on Mars, a maniacal and hammy Master in Doctor Who.
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This may be the most overrated man’s name in the world.
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John Thomas is British slang for a penis.
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This is a blessèd name, especially considering that this name is used by a variety of saints and religious leaders (ie various Catholic and Coptic popes [variations]).
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John is boring, in my opinion, but it's pretty harmless and has a great meaning. I can see why parents would name their sons this classic name.
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Don't give this name to your baby, it's better on an adult.
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If you're telling people not to name their babies this because it suits better an adult, then you're really stupid. Babies turn into adults. If you don’t name your baby John then in future there will be no adults or babies called John.
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John Bonham was the drummer for Led Zeppelin.
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Super overused and kind of boring, but I like it. I prefer James, though.
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Some middle names:
John Joseph
John Olly
John Hayden
John Nicholas.
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John Joseph
John Olly
John Hayden
John Nicholas.
5
It’s a little bit boring as it’s used often, but I can definitely see why it’s common! John is a classic name.
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John Ronald Reuel "J.R.R." Tolkien was an American poet.
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John Winchester! Horrible father. Plus it is an overused name.
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-1
A handsome classic. I can't understand why so many commenters say it's overused, because it isn't, nowadays. Nor can I understand why James (which is a nice name, don't misunderstand me) is so popular - to the point of overuse - but John is avoided. It's Jack that's overused, not John, and I'd rather name a boy John (with the option of Jack as a nn) any day.
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Short, simple, and to the point. Kind of overused though.
5
5
Maybe a bit boring? No offense, of course, but it's looks plain and too common, like the feminine version, which is Jane.
0
0
The root of this word is Indo-European. It is a universal word and name and it means young, life, soul, love and...
Etymology: Old English geong "youthful, young; recent, new, fresh," from Proto-Germanic *junga- (source also of Old Saxon and Old Frisian jung, Middle Dutch jonc, Dutch jong, Old High German and German jung), from PIE *yuwn-ko-, suffixed form of root *yeu- "vital force, youthful vigor" (source also of Sanskrit yuvan- "young; young man;" Avestan yuuanem, yunam "youth,"; Latin juvenis "young," iunior "younger, more young;" Lithuanian jaunas, Old Church Slavonic junu, Russian junyj "young,"; Welsh ieuanc "young").
-2
Etymology: Old English geong "youthful, young; recent, new, fresh," from Proto-Germanic *junga- (source also of Old Saxon and Old Frisian jung, Middle Dutch jonc, Dutch jong, Old High German and German jung), from PIE *yuwn-ko-, suffixed form of root *yeu- "vital force, youthful vigor" (source also of Sanskrit yuvan- "young; young man;" Avestan yuuanem, yunam "youth,"; Latin juvenis "young," iunior "younger, more young;" Lithuanian jaunas, Old Church Slavonic junu, Russian junyj "young,"; Welsh ieuanc "young").
-2
Classic, timeless, and simple to pronounce! Good for a middle name too.
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John Dall (26 May 1920 - 15 January 1971) was an American actor best known for two films: Rope (1948) and Gun Crazy (1950).
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I actually like John, even though it was quite popular in previous generations. Presently, you would be hard pressed to encounter this in any classroom as opposed to all the Noahs, Jacobs, Liams and Lucas. A timeless classic that transcends the generations.
PS- I am a first grade teacher so my profession allows me the opportunity to have a front row seat on the naming conventions of our present age.
6
PS- I am a first grade teacher so my profession allows me the opportunity to have a front row seat on the naming conventions of our present age.
6
Love the fact this name is so rare and underused, I've never met anyone called John, it should be used a lot more and don't know why it isn't - Hopefully we will start to see more John's emerge in the future.
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John is one of those names that are quite common and I guess that could be considered both a strength and weakness. On one hand it is a basic go to name that ages well as it could suit just about anybody. However, at the same time it can be perceived as “ dull and uninspiring” by some as noted in the comments. So, as we say often, to each their own.
4
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I love the name John. It is a good, solid name that suits all ages. Also, all of the Johns I have met have been lovely and I have never met a nasty one.
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It's an old fashioned & boring name with some negative associations i.e John being referred to as a toilet, John being referred to as a client of a prostitute and John Doe.
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-6
I can't imagine this on a child. I get that there are nicknames but it just isn't a good name.
-4
-4
How is everyone forgetting about John Wick lol.
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Too much, too common I'm not into it.
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-3
I don't think anybody mentioned this yet, but John Charles Julian Lennon is a famous bearer of this name. More known as Julian Lennon.
4
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At least this name crosses language barriers.
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John Bunyan was a pastor in the 17th century. He was a dissenter who stood up to the Church of England when it would not allow any church to exist if it wasn't approved by them, and the author of the Christian masterpiece Pilgrim's Progress, as well as many other books about Christianity.
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The most basic, plain-Jane name ever. That said, I think it has something going for it, as it has survived the passage of time.
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I love this name, it’s handsome and very masculine.
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Really overused. Looks boring, sounds boring. Not a bad name, just somehow it's too much around, similar other names, similar surnames, often as a middle name. Not that interesting.
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1
I am John, as was my father. My great grandfather was Johannes. My great-great grandfather was Johan. I have a grandson whose middle name is John. I love the way we keep a name going through the generations.
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John Avery Whittaker is a character in the children's (and frankly anyone's) radio ministry Adventures in Odyssey.
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Three of my favorite Johns are 1) John Cooper, Lead Singer of Skillet and the cutest/best rock singer to ever exist 2) John Barrowman, actor for Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood - also super hott and 3) John Ronald Reuel (J.R.R Tolkien), the BEST author ever.
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Not overused lol.
-1
-1
A classic name for boys that, unlike James and William, never gets old or feels too overused.
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My (real) name is Breathe, so it's probably not surprising that I tend to favor and have a special love for unique/uncommon names. However, there are plenty of names in several categories (such as vintage/retro, classy, common, trendy, biblical, place-inspired, food-inspired, etc.) that I love!
John is one of the few timelessly classic names that have stayed around for at least some 2,000 years. Most names come and go, but the fact that John has been around for several centuries, is heard of in many countries around the world, and has never been outside of the USA top 100 names, genuinely proves how wonderful, strong and truly timeless of a name that it is. Also, to add to its excellence is the meaning: “Yahweh is gracious”, and the highly respected saints, the John the Apostle and John the Baptist.
Overall, I believe that John is a great name, despite its popularity. In-fact, its popularity isn't a bad thing, it just goes to show how beloved it is.
8
John is one of the few timelessly classic names that have stayed around for at least some 2,000 years. Most names come and go, but the fact that John has been around for several centuries, is heard of in many countries around the world, and has never been outside of the USA top 100 names, genuinely proves how wonderful, strong and truly timeless of a name that it is. Also, to add to its excellence is the meaning: “Yahweh is gracious”, and the highly respected saints, the John the Apostle and John the Baptist.
Overall, I believe that John is a great name, despite its popularity. In-fact, its popularity isn't a bad thing, it just goes to show how beloved it is.
8
If you are looking for an interesting and vibrant name call your son John, picking this name leads one to delve into the sector of obscurity (Sarcasm).
-3
-3
I was between John and Theodore for my baby boy. I picked John for his first name due to his future. It's my father's name and many successful men's name. I think Theodore is an adorable name but I have 2 older children so I have been to many kid events. For the last 8 years I have only heard 1 boy called John. It's all Jayden, Liam, Brayden, Leo..in my mind childish names. When my son is 60 years old I think the name John will work much better in his adult life.
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10
I love this name, especially due to the association with the fictional character John Watson.
This name also hasn't been extremely popular for decades. It might have a reputation as a very boring and generic name, but in reality a boy named John today is unlikely to have a dozen other Johns in his class.
9
This name also hasn't been extremely popular for decades. It might have a reputation as a very boring and generic name, but in reality a boy named John today is unlikely to have a dozen other Johns in his class.
9
I actually like this name ‒ it's a timeless classic that will never be ruined by bad associations, and will fit a man of all ages. It has the wonderful nickname of Jack, too. Also, in the era of decreasing privacy, the "default" name of John will make you much harder to find online and identify.
Although, I suppose that can be a downside too. A man named John might feel like he doesn't have his own distinct identity due to how wide-spread the name is.
8
Although, I suppose that can be a downside too. A man named John might feel like he doesn't have his own distinct identity due to how wide-spread the name is.
8
Captain John F. X. "Trapper John" Mcintyre of the 4077th MASH!
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1
1| John Cena
2| John Roberts
3| John Wayne
4| John Karna
5| John Boyega
7
2| John Roberts
3| John Wayne
4| John Karna
5| John Boyega
7
Did you guys really forget about John Cena?
7
7
I used this as a placeholder name for a character, but then I forgot to replace it, so it stuck. I feel kinda bad for him now, considering the others’ names. There’s Aeldrick, Theophania, Conchúr, and... John.
7
7
John is kind of a dumb name and it's so basic, who would name their kid that?
-12
-12
This name is trash don’t waste it on your kid and name them Jack because it is a great name.
-11
-11
Another one of the overused and boring biblical names. I swear there are so many Johns in movies, video games, and TV shows the name has become tiresome for me. Name your characters something else. Jack is the Medieval spelling of John, I'd take that any day.
-3
-3
I actually like this name but probably won’t use it on my own kids.
8
8
John Raymond Legrasse is a police inspector for New Orleans in the H. P. Lovecraft short story "The Call of Cthulhu". He and his fellow police officers conduct a raid on a meeting of Cthulhu cultists in Louisiana, after which they interrogate the surviving cult members they captured. Legrasse also removes the small Cthulhu statue during the raid and shows it to a meeting of archaeologists.
2
2
It’s an okay name in my opinion. It won’t lead to low expectations and doesn’t exactly sound pompous, but it’s dreadfully overused and boring. I’d just go with Jack instead.
3
3
John sounds very mature and it suits all ages. It does sound rather dull though, but hey, it's loads better than all of the trendy, modern names popping up everywhere!
9
9
The name itself is not bad, however me and my cousin know countless people called John. I can't list them all as there would be so many...but nevertheless, I like the name!
If you are called John, upvote this because we think your name is iconic:)
7
If you are called John, upvote this because we think your name is iconic:)
7
I quite like Johnny as a nickname but John has had its day now. I honestly don't see the appeal of naming your kid this in 2020. John has had its day.
-2
-2
John Wayne Gacy an American serial killer.
6
6
This is a slang term for a toilet. No thanks.
4
4
People should start using Johnny as a name on the birth certificate. I think it would be fine to be honest as people use names like Harry and Alfie and Johnny is a world renowned title, more refreshing than just John.
2
2
A classic!
11
11
This may be THE most common male name in all history, but it’s growing on me enough that I’m thinking of using it for my newest baby. I like how simple and straightforward it is. I can’t imagine it causing him any problems in life. I think the frequency that people are using it these days has calmed down enough that he won’t be lost in a sea of Johns.
14
14
Too common, even if there are less babies being named John the absurd amount named before makes it just too much.
5
5
John Quincy Adams who was he, he was our sixth president of the United states from 1825 to 1829, he was United States Secretary of State from 1817 to 1825.
Or John F. Kennedy who was the 35th president of the United states and John F. Kennedy Jr. was a lawyer.
I didn't see John Wayne listed "Well hey there, pilgrim".
I see it as a strong name, smart and becoming rare.
-1
Or John F. Kennedy who was the 35th president of the United states and John F. Kennedy Jr. was a lawyer.
I didn't see John Wayne listed "Well hey there, pilgrim".
I see it as a strong name, smart and becoming rare.
-1
John Richard Deacon (born August 19, 1951) was the former bassist of Queen, and wrote, among others, songs such as "Another One Bites the Dust", "You're my Best Friend", and "Misfire". He left after Freddie Mercury's death in 1991.
4
4
I think John is a traditionally, strong, classy, masculine boy’s name! I realize ‘John’ is one of those names to remain trendy, popular, common, and overused at all times. That’s what caused it to seem like such a very boring and plain name. The reason why John has always been such a typical name is because it’s lovely, elegant, handsome, noble, and its got so much meaning behind it. It’s a really nice name for a MALE! I know this ‘masculine’ name had some rare feminine usage back then, but that doesn’t make it a ‘female’ name or a unisex name. You COULD name a girl John, but that doesn’t mean you SHOULD. I love this name, but ONLY for guys! I wouldn’t use it, but it’s a nice name!
5
5
Not bad, but overused.
2
2
John Murphy is a main character in seasons 3-7 of "The 100". He was a minor character in Seasons 1 and 2.
0
0
It's not a bad name but to me, personally, it's bland and just way too common. It just sounds like a name you pick when you can't think of anything else.
1
1
The late John McCain (1936-2018) was a US senator from the state of Arizona and the Republican Party’s candidate for president in 2008.
1
1
Johnny Depp - American actor.
3
3
John Paul Stevens was the longest-lived Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in history.
1
1
John Hancock from the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution.
3
3
Donald John Trump!
-2
-2
A timeless default name. It’s not a bad name.
5
5
John is a beautiful boy’s name and it comes off as classy and distinguished. However, John has always been such a common name and it’s still very popular, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad name. It’s handsome and elegant. My opinion.
20
20
Unlike James and William, I've never thought of it as so boring. It's very masculine, sexy, and classic-sounding! Never gets old for me in my book.
5
5
I have an uncle John. I personally have nothing wrong with the name. It’s rather common, but I can’t see any reason why you would hate it. Apart from it meaning toilet or prostitute’s client, @MyNameIsJohn LOL! I wouldn’t give this name to a baby, because now it’s more of an adult-ish mature name.
Good name.
-2
Good name.
-2
My name is John and If you didn't know it means a toilet or a prostitute's client. That's BAD.
-11
-11
I love the name John. You don't see too many kids named John nowadays, it's mostly Jacobs and Liams.
13
13
According to howmanyofme.com, there are 555 people in the U.S. named John John.
7
7
I think the name John is over used and every John I have ever met has always been rude and so full of themselves period!
-14
-14
My name is John and I’ve always hated my name. When I was about ten, I realized that E V E R Y O N E is named John. Nothing wrong with the name itself, there are just too many Johns in the world. I’ll be naming my future kids unique names like Devereux or Athena.
0
0
Most people have stopped using this name after it was popular for a long number of years to millenia.
-2
-2
According to howmanyofme.com, there are actually 233 people in the U.S. named John Doe (and 258 named Richard Roe)!
8
8
I’m Jasckat. My name. Full name. Pronounced JAS-kat
I go by John for obvious reasons.
Jack would always remind me of Jasckat so John suited me. I would get unbelievably amazing comments about my name. Why it’s popular? Because it’s good! When you say it’s a good name and not overused people will see your comment and name their child that and THEN you will say not to use it because it’s popular. I like my name and I respect it so please bear with me! Thanks from Ukraine!
1
I go by John for obvious reasons.
Jack would always remind me of Jasckat so John suited me. I would get unbelievably amazing comments about my name. Why it’s popular? Because it’s good! When you say it’s a good name and not overused people will see your comment and name their child that and THEN you will say not to use it because it’s popular. I like my name and I respect it so please bear with me! Thanks from Ukraine!
1
This name is so generic. Too common.
4
4
Traditional English and modern Scandinavian and German.
4
4
Usage: Swedish (Modern), Norwegian (Modern), Finnish (Modern), Danish (Modern), Estonian (Modern, Rare)
4
4
John is an over used name. But it's also a really great name. That's why so many people have it. Some of the best people I have ever met are John's.
14
14
John Lennon was a vocalist in the band, The Beatles.
6
6
John William Oliver is a comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, television host and actor.
2
2
John Mulaney is an Emmy winning stand-up comedian. He also does voice acting (most notably in the Netflix show Big Mouth), used to write for Saturday Night Live (where he co-created the character Stefon with Bill Hader), and had a Broadway show called Oh, Hello where he and Nick Kroll played two elderly New Yorkers. Personally, my favorite celebrity. Universally loved by those who know of him.
4
4
John is a common male name that has become over-used in my opinion. I always thought of JOHN as a fill-in name, when parents can't think of anything else to put on the birth certificate. I am not knocking any individuals with the name; it just doesn't work for me.
2
2
I find John to be a plain, common, simple, popular, every-day name! With that being said, it’s a noble name for a boy! It may be simple and overused, but it will never go out of style. It’s simple yet elegant.
22
22
Ian (Scottish), Ivan (Russian), Evan (Welsh), Yanni (Greek), and Vanya (Russian) are all other forms of John. I know at least one person with each of these names; one friend of mine even goes by all of them.
3
3
This really isn't my 'personal impression' of the name, this is fact... When ever I meet a John, I feel really bad. This name is what 50% of people will answer first with if you ask them to think of a name in 3 seconds, the other 49% being their own name. Way too generic. I'm white myself, but this name is WAY too white for me. Don't name anyone this any more. Not to mention, it's slang for "Toilet" and "Peepee."
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Plain. Nothing says “I didn’t put much effort into choosing a name for my child” like John does. On the bright side, if John is ever an unidentified corpse, when the police refer to him as John Doe, they’ll be half right.
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-4
John is a handsome, strong, classy name for a male, though really common, and overused, so it feels like a typical name, but I still love it! It’s a great name! So beautiful and rugged, it will always age well on a young boy to a strong man! Though I think this is a strong male name, I’d love to see a girl pull this name off, a very girly-girl!
-6
-6
Ah yes, good old John. I like this name a lot. Even though it's common, it just has a timeless, eternal charm that never goes away. John is a name that just sticks around, and has a simple wholesomeness about it. John will always be well-liked, and nowadays, it's a little unusual to meet a boy named John, so now's a good time to use it.
5
5
John Dough is the main character of the book John Dough and the Cherub by L. Frank Baum. He is an intelligent gingerbread man in the likeness of a gentleman.
2
2
John Osborne famous playwright who wrote LOOK BACK IN ANGER.
3
3
John is still a good strong name though to me a bit tired from over use. I'd still choose it over some of these modern names, though never been crazy about the name Johnathan.
2
2
This is the name of the comedian, John Oliver. He hosts the show, Last Week Tonight.
3
3
In 2018, 42 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) John who is registered female* with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1, 590th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
*to some extent, I think this can be explained by incorrect data entry or forms filled out wrong during application; since John has been a popular male name for millennia, it stands to reason that by sheer numbers, more John applicants would be entered incorrectly as female. But certainly there are girls & women named John, too.
2
*to some extent, I think this can be explained by incorrect data entry or forms filled out wrong during application; since John has been a popular male name for millennia, it stands to reason that by sheer numbers, more John applicants would be entered incorrectly as female. But certainly there are girls & women named John, too.
2
In 2018, 46 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) John who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 3rd most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
4
4
John Snow, the 19th-century doctor who discovered that cholera was a waterborne disease (the Broad Street epidemic). Also known for his work relating to anaesthesia.
6
6
Meh, it's an alright name. It's a bit short, common and generic sounding but it's a whole lot better than a lot of names you see nowadays.
6
6
"John Galt is a character in Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged (1957). Although he is not identified by name until the last third of the novel, he is the object of its often-repeated question "Who is John Galt?" and of the quest to discover the answer. "
1
1
John Cena is an American wrestler and is a 13 time WWE Champion.
4
4
This has to be the most boring name you could possibly give your child. It's so common and generic sounding it's one of those names you can come up with in a heartbeat without putting in any effort. Please name your son something more unique.
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-4
I am British and I have never once heard the name John pronounced the way you suggest for Britiah English. It is pronounced JON.
3
3
I actually really like this name now, especially with how strong it is. Sure, it may have been common for centuries but now, it would be pretty refreshing seeing one and it always has represented purity to me. Cool name also, and I like its manly sound as well as a more child-friendly nickname like Johnny, but still working for a kid. I also like its feminine forms like Joanna and Jeanne.
4
4
John Stith Pemberton was the inventor of Coca-Cola.
3
3
Ew. Too many republican politicians like McCain and Kasich and religious figures for my taste, personally.
-1
-1
John is Donald Trump's middle name... and his son, Donald Trump Jr.
0
0
John Meredith is the Reverend in Rainbow Valley. He has 4 children.
5
5
John Crewe is a character in A Little Princes. He is Sara Crewe's father.
6
6
John Wayne Gacy. Nuff said.
4
4
Eh, it's an okay name, but it's so common it makes the name look super plain.
4
4
It is confusing when names like John, Jacob, Jonah, Joseph and Jude are referred to as biblical names.
The letter J was the last to be added to the English alphabet. Some have said it wasn't in use in the English language until the 1500s. Indeed, it is so new to our language, that it has been said that only the letters Q, X and Z are found less often than J, in English words. Other sources indicate that J and Q are the least often found and are about equally so.
When referring to biblical names, therefore, it would be useful to give the spellings for those names. As they were in biblical times. Without checking, my guess is than John may have been Yohanan.
The letters I and J have had the same meaning, hence Ian and Ivan seem to derive from John.
J may have come from the swash or 'decorative' style of the letter I, as seen in Roman numerals, e.g. XXIIJ rather than XXIII.
3
The letter J was the last to be added to the English alphabet. Some have said it wasn't in use in the English language until the 1500s. Indeed, it is so new to our language, that it has been said that only the letters Q, X and Z are found less often than J, in English words. Other sources indicate that J and Q are the least often found and are about equally so.
When referring to biblical names, therefore, it would be useful to give the spellings for those names. As they were in biblical times. Without checking, my guess is than John may have been Yohanan.
The letters I and J have had the same meaning, hence Ian and Ivan seem to derive from John.
J may have come from the swash or 'decorative' style of the letter I, as seen in Roman numerals, e.g. XXIIJ rather than XXIII.
3
John Brown (1800-1859) was a passionate American abolitionist in the years leading up to the Civil War.
5
5
It's a really nice name. It's getting less common each year :(
4
4
John Matthew Heard Jr. was an American film and television actor. He was probably best known for his lead roles in several films, including Chilly Scenes of Winter, Heart Beat, Cutter's Way, Cat People, and C.H.U.D., as well as supporting roles in After Hours, Big, Beaches, Awakenings, Rambling Rose, The Pelican Brief, My Fellow Americans, Snake Eyes, and Animal Factory. He also played Peter McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, as well as appearing in Sharknado. Heard was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1999 for guest starring on The Sopranos.
2
2
John Rykener, known also as Johannes Richer and Eleanor, was a 14th-century transvestite prostitute working mainly in London, but also active in Oxford. He was arrested in 1395 for cross-dressing and interrogated. The records have survived, the only surviving legal records from that age which mentions same-sex intercourse.
3
3
John Bennett Ramsey is an American businessman, author, and father of homicide victim JonBenét Ramsey, who was murdered in her Boulder, Colorado home on December 25, 1996. He discovered 6-year-old JonBenét's body in the cellar of the home just hours after her murder.
3
3
Also the name of the main character in Andrew Hussie's webcomic Homestuck, John Egbert.
4
4
Sir John Chippendale "Chips" Lindley Keswick is a British merchant banker and member of the Keswick family who control Jardine Matheson, founded by William Jardine. On 14 June 2013, he became Chairman of Arsenal football club.
2
2
I don't think it's an ugly name, but I hope whoever I wind up marrying wouldn't want to use it for our child. In my opinion it's a bit bland and overused.
1
1
John Michael Gibbons is an American former professional baseball player and the current manager of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Gibbons briefly played in the Major Leagues as a catcher with the New York Mets, in the mid-1980s.
2
2
French actor John Eyzen, best known for his role as Mercutio in the 2010 revival of Gèrard Presgurvic's musical Roméo et Juliette.
2
2
Very popular in Sweden, Netherlands and Norway. [noted -ed]
2
2
John George Terry is an English professional footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Chelsea. He commonly plays as a centre-back. He was captain of the England national team, holding the post from August 2006 to February 2010, and again from March 2011 to February 2012.
2
2
John Ducas is a teen-aged investor and entrepreneur. Ducas is from New York City but currently lives in Europe with his family. At the age of 9 he started investing with play money at Marketwatch. When he was 13 his parents gave him 3, 000 euros to invest, and he opened a trading account with an online broker. At age 15, he founded Ducas Capital, which publishes financial research online. According to Forbes magazine, he serves over 110 clients.
3
3
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor and filmmaker, who has performed for nearly 60 years. Nicholson is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles, including satirical comedy, romance and dark portrayals of excitable and psychopathic characters. In many of his films, he has played the "eternal outsider, the sardonic drifter", someone who rebels against the social structure.
4
4
John Samuel Mbiti is a Kenyan-born Christian religious philosopher and writer. He is an ordained Anglican priest, and as of 2005 a canon. Born in Kenya, Mbiti studied in Uganda and the United States, taking his doctorate in 1963 at the University of Cambridge, UK. He taught religion and theology in Makerere University, Uganda from 1964 to 1974 and was subsequently director of the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Institute in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland. He has held visiting professorships at universities across the world and published extensively on philosophy, theology and African oral traditions.
2
2
The late rock legend John Entwistle of the rock band The Who is a famous bearer.
2
2
John Peter Petrucci is the guitarist of American metal band Dream Theater.
2
2
A very common name with many forms that are less plain, however, this name needs a break. It has been popular for too long. It is also very plain.
2
2
John Scarce.
4
4
Probably the most overused male name in the history of the English speaking world, and, thus, so generic. Even if it's not as popular as it once was, number 26 out of 1000+ is still nothing to scoff at.
0
0
Can't believe nobody mentioned this... JOHN CENA! Famous wrestler a guy who's on a lot of Vines.
5
5
This name is so boring and overused. It's been the most common name for centuries, so please give this name a rest.
-2
-2
John is a good name as itself or with the nickname Johnny. Jack used as a short for John is one of the most strange things in the world of onomastics. It's so evident that Jack is linked to Jacques, the French form of Jacob and James and all the English dictionaries show this logical etymology. It's not true that Jack and Jacques are separated names: the sound of the two is pretty much the same like also the writing. Around the world, Jack is more associated with the Jacob's cognates: think about Jackie which is used as a short for Jacques and Jacqueline for example. In conclusion: it's true that in the English speaking world Jack is traditionally more used for John but this is a mistake, or in any case this nickname is derived from Jacob's family. The Jankin's theory that shows how Jack is derived from John is not accepted by all the linguistics scholars.
3
3
John is also the first name of rockstar Ozzy Osbourne and politician Jeb Bush, whose full name is John Ellis Bush and the son of George W Bush.
3
3
I like John. It's not my favorite Biblical name (That would be either Peter or James) but John is a fine name. My best friend has this name. Notable Johns include John Lennon (The Beatles), John Belushi (Comedian), John Glenn (Astronaut), and John Cleese (Monty Python). John is good in my book.
3
3
I like this name because it's timeless and so easy to say. Everyone needs a placeholder name. I don't think I would call my son this though. Would probably go with one of the less common variants.
1
1
If I had a penny for every "John" in the world, I'd be the queen of the World.
10
10
Several famous people are named John
John Lennon- Beatles
John Mcindoe- actor
John Philpott- actor
I like the name John and wouldn't mind using it for either a first or middle name for my future son/s.
2
John Lennon- Beatles
John Mcindoe- actor
John Philpott- actor
I like the name John and wouldn't mind using it for either a first or middle name for my future son/s.
2
This is perhaps the most boring, dull name I've ever heard. The kind of name you think up in a heartbeat when trying to name something, with no thought put into it. Not a favorite, by a long shot.
-1
-1
John Ritter,
Born: September 17, 1948, Burbank, CA
Died: September 11, 2003, Burbank, CA
He played Jack Tripper on Three's Company and Three's a Crowd.
2
Born: September 17, 1948, Burbank, CA
Died: September 11, 2003, Burbank, CA
He played Jack Tripper on Three's Company and Three's a Crowd.
2
I love the name. It's so much classier to give your kid a normal, traditional name, than some weirdo, I-am-trying-way-too-hard-to-be-original one. When I meet kids with the name Dominic, or Maddox, or Apple, I know that their parents were too young or immature to be having kids. A person's uniqueness should come from their achievements and their personality. Not their weirdo name.
Also, I would like to add John the Baptist, John D Rockafeller, and John Dillinger to the list of famous Johns. And to point out that not only is John Smith the character in Pocahantas, but also the famous explorer who explored the New World helped by Pocahantas. Name your kid John. It's manly and classy.
1
Also, I would like to add John the Baptist, John D Rockafeller, and John Dillinger to the list of famous Johns. And to point out that not only is John Smith the character in Pocahantas, but also the famous explorer who explored the New World helped by Pocahantas. Name your kid John. It's manly and classy.
1
My name is John and I like it. I do think that it's too common and usual, but I don't think it's boring. There are so many unique ways to spell the name like Jon, Juan, Jean almost every language has a form of John and there are so many in the English language. There are also lots of cool nicknames you can use, like Johnny, to make it less boring if you need to.
2
2
John Hall (1575 – 25 November 1635) was a physician and son-in-law of William Shakespeare.
2
2
Teen fiction author, John Green.
4
4
John is one of the most timeless names I can think of. It's short, masculine easy to spell and overall a really strong name.
3
3
I like the name John. I don't see why everyone has a problem with it. I don't find it boring at all, I think it's a nice name and it's far from being generic, it's a strong masculine name that has endured over the centuries.
6
6
This name has been one of the most common names in English and European countries for centuries, but I still love it! It's a strong, masculine, timeless name that you can't go wrong with it. One of my favourite names!
3
3
John Smith is the deuteragonist in Disney's Pocahontas.
4
4
John Avery Whittaker from the radio show Adventures in Odyssey. He goes by Whit.
2
2
I'm sorry, but this reminds me too much of John the Baptist.
-2
-2
My husband's name is John. I love it and it suits him so well. Makes me think of St. John. I don't think it is common and overused- at least not like Michael is.
3
3
A famous barrier of this name is John Tavares - player on the New York Islanders.
2
2
Guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers John Frusciante is a famous bearer.
4
4
John Saxon is an American actor.
4
4
My name is John and I think it's ok. But it's just kind of singular and too common. However, there are a few good nicknames for it, as people sometimes call me Johnny, but if I had a son some day I would probably not make it their first name.
3
3
John is fine, but how many people are out there with the name John? I know several people love it, even though it is popular, but don't you want a unique name such as Elliott, or Simon, or Dominic? It is just used all over the world. I am not saying you shouldn't name your kid John, but think first on how many other people will, and they will get confused.
3
3
John is a great name! It's my little brother's name and I absolutely adore it! This name is timeless and a stronger, more mature name than Caden, Jaden, Brayden, Aiden, etc. (no offense to anybody, I despise the names that end in "Aiden" fad). Besides, on a job resume, 'John' looks far more mature and is more likely to be taken seriously than an 'Aiden' would.
2
2
John Linley Frazier, known as The Killer Prophet, was an American mass murderer who killed five people in Santa Cruz, California. Frazier was a religious fanatic who read the Bible and believed the voice of God was telling him to commit homicides.
2
2
I like it for a middle name. If I had a son I'd make John the middle name. My father is John. Named after Giovanni, his grandfather. It's a great name. My Dad says it's too common and a bathroom name, lol. But it's wonderful imo at least as a middle name.
3
3
It is a nice name. It was my grandpa's name. It was also the name of the character John Kennex on Almost Human which was my favorite show!
2
2
A famous bearer is John Nolan, the back-up vocalist and guitarist of alternative rock band Taking Back Sunday.
2
2
John is the most common name of Nobel laureates (37 as of 2014), not surprisingly for such a common name. Robert is second with 31.
3
3
John Bardeen was the only recipient of two Nobel Prizes in Physics (1956 and 1972). His prizes were for inventing the transistor and explaining superconductivity.
2
2
Also used in Norway, where it's pronounced "YOON".
0
0
John Winchester is a character on the television series "Supernatural." He is the father of the two main characters, Sam and Dean Winchester.
2
2
John Bennett is a character on the Netflix original series "Orange Is the New Black."
3
3
I'm not very fond of that whole biblical association, but I do like this name very much. It really is refreshing to hear nowadays, what with all these trendy names popping up.
2
2
This is my brothers name but we all call him "John Michael", "John Mikes" or "Mikes" because his middle name is Michael and everyone likes him at his school. This is also my dads name. Also, Michael was about to be his name.
2
2
John Cleese, one of the six founding members of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
6
6
John Denver (born as Henry John Dutchendorf Jr.) is an American singer/songwriter, and definitely my favorite singer! He was a 70s singer, too.
3
3
Sir John Alexander MacDonald (1815-1891) was the first Prime Minister of Canada. He is the second longest serving prime minister in Canadian history.
4
4
Shame it's so common and considered quite boring- I like the name "John".
2
2
John Egbert from Andrew Hussie's MS Paint Adventure webcomic Homestuck.
2
2
A classic name that is very, very common.
2
2
'John' is a tad staid, I prefer 'Jon' but either way I'm pretty sure if you have this name it's because your parents named you after one of their fathers; it's a name that gets passed down.
-1
-1
John is not pronounced 'Jahn', it is pronounced 'John' or 'Jon'.
The American pronunciation is incorrect as the name originates in England in the Western cultural context, well before the US.
-3
The American pronunciation is incorrect as the name originates in England in the Western cultural context, well before the US.
-3
My husband is named John, after his father (who goes by Jack). As much hate as the name gets for its 'commonness', I personally love it. I love the sound of it, it's just so strong and simple. Of course it was extremely popular for ages, but nowadays I think if you named your son John he might be the only one in his class. And if not, he can always go by Jack or Johnny. I personally would rather meet 5 little boys named John than another Aiden, Ethan, Mason, or Jackson. We are seriously considering it for our son, he would be John Edward III :-)
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I don't care how common this name is, it's one of my favorites. I know a baby boy named John and I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see a little boy with such a classic name amongst all the Jaydens, Aidens, Braydens, Kaylees, an Kylies.
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John Jacob Astor IV (1864-1912) was an American multi-millionaire, the richest man onboard the RMS titanic, and rumored to be the richest man in the US at one time. He was often followed by paparazzi and the subject of many news articles, especially when he began dating Madeleine Force, a woman 29 years his junior. He and Madeleine eventually married and bought a ticket for the titanic on their honeymoon. Though he did not survive the sinking, Madeleine did and gave birth to a baby boy four months later, named John Jacob Astor VI, nicknamed Jakey. Besides Jakey, Astor was survived by a daughter, Ava, and a son, William, from his first wife, Ava Willing.
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The English name came as many- from a mistake. The Bible was first printed in Germany. When it was translated into English the name remained in the german form. So John should have been translated Ion since J is pronounced as I in german and h is silent.
Ps: usually the simplest solution is the correct one;
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Ps: usually the simplest solution is the correct one;
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I have a brother named John, and I like the name. It reminds me of someone who is kinda energetic.
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John Roberts is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
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This name is also used in The Netherlands, where the name is a firm top 1000 name. It's one of those names that became increasingly popular in the country after World War II (i.e. a real "baby boomer" name), due to the country having been liberated by the Allied Forces (most of them American, Australian, British and Canadian). A lot of the soldiers that the Dutch natives met during the liberation were named John (which was a top 5 name in English-speaking countries at the time), so the name enjoyed quite some exposure in the entire country and thus many Dutch parents were inspired to give this name to their son. Quite often it would not be the name on the birth certificate, however: a lot of parents would officially name their son Jan or Johannes (which would thus be the name on the child's birth certificate), but they would simply call him John in daily life. I know many of these "baby boomer" Johns in my immediate environment - one of them being my mother's brother, who was born in 1958 (and he is one of those Johns who has Johannes on his birth certificate, but is always called John in real life).
The pronunciation for John varies in The Netherlands and the reasons for why that is are a bit complicated. For more information about this matter, please read this detailed post that I once wrote regarding that: http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/4299104
The pronunciation that I have always encountered in my immediate environment is ZHON (somewhat influenced by the French pronunciation from Jean). That is a fairly southern pronunciation (and I am from the south), as in the north of the country the pronunciation is usually DYON or SHON. All three pronunciations are "dutchized" pronunciations (which I talked about in my aforementioned post), but all of them closely resemble the British pronunciation of John. They don't sound anywhere near the American pronunciation of John at all.
An example of the Dutch pronunciation can be heard here: http://www.forvo.com/word/John_van_koert/
Finally, well-known Dutch bearers of this name are media tycoon John de Mol (b. 1955) and the former soccer player John de Wolf (b. 1962).
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The pronunciation for John varies in The Netherlands and the reasons for why that is are a bit complicated. For more information about this matter, please read this detailed post that I once wrote regarding that: http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/4299104
The pronunciation that I have always encountered in my immediate environment is ZHON (somewhat influenced by the French pronunciation from Jean). That is a fairly southern pronunciation (and I am from the south), as in the north of the country the pronunciation is usually DYON or SHON. All three pronunciations are "dutchized" pronunciations (which I talked about in my aforementioned post), but all of them closely resemble the British pronunciation of John. They don't sound anywhere near the American pronunciation of John at all.
An example of the Dutch pronunciation can be heard here: http://www.forvo.com/word/John_van_koert/
Finally, well-known Dutch bearers of this name are media tycoon John de Mol (b. 1955) and the former soccer player John de Wolf (b. 1962).
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I know three people my age named John. One goes by John, one goes by Jack, and one goes by Johnny. I like all three, and you really can't say anything bad about this name because it's classic and one of the most popular names throughout history :)
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This name may have been massively overused for centuries, but nowadays it seems like a welcome breath of fresh air in a sea of Aidan/Caden/Braydon/Jaden/Zaidens. I'd think a parent naming a boy John today wanted him to stand out a bit, as compared to someone naming a boy John 200 years ago.
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Derives from Greek: "Ιωαννης" deriving from "Ιων" and "Ιανος", who was the ancientest king of an ancient Greek colony in Italy. He also built a fortress on Rom's hill, the "Ianiculum". He was later deified, believing that he was son of Apollo and Kreusi, daughter of Athens' king Erehteus.
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Nice name, but boring and overused.
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John, although supposedly just an alias, is one of the main characters in the book "John Dies at the End" by David Wong.
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John (1905-1919) was the youngest son of King George V of Great Britain and his wife Mary of Teck. He had epilepsy and died age 13.
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John (1389-1435) was the son of King Henry IV of England and his wife Mary.
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John was the son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainaut.
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John was the oldest son of King Edward I and his wife Eleanor of Castile.
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John of Eltham was the second son of Edward II of England and his wife Isabelle of France.
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John King of England (1166-1216), youngest son of Henry II of England and his wife Eleonore of Aquitaine and brother of Richard Lionheart. Also known as "John Lackland".
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Another famous bearer is the late American writer and literary critic, John Updike.
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John Robinson is the leader of the Jupiter 2 mission in Lost In Space.
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John Cheere (1709-87) was an English sculptor of garden figures.
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John Angus Chamberlain is an American sculptor.
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John Edwin Canaday (b. February 1, 1907, Fort Scott, Kansas - d. July 19, 1985, New York City, New York) was a leading American art critic, author and art historian.
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John Bushnell (1630-1701) was an English sculptor.
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John the Fearless.
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John Brett (1831-1902) was an English painter, mainly of coastal scenes and landscapes.
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John Randall Bratby (1928-1992) was a British painter and writer.
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John Bowes (1811-1885) was an English collector.
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John Boydell (1719-1804) was an English engraver and print publisher. In 1790 he was lord mayor of London.
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John Peter Berger (born 5 November 1926) is an English art critic, novelist, painter and author.
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John Bellany is a Scottish painter.
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John Grimes and his identical twin brother Edward form Irish duo Jedward.
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Sir John Beazley (1885-1970) was Professor of Classical Archaeology and Art in the University from 1925-1956.
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John Bacon (1740-1799) was an English sculptor.
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John James Audubon (1785-1851) was an American painter-naturalist. He had two sons: John Woodhouse Audubon and Victor Gifford Audubon.
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I'm actually quite surprised that no one mentioned a certain Master Chief Petty Officer (ie. SPARTAN II) from a certain game by the name Halo...
(translation: John-117).
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(translation: John-117).
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My brother's name is John and he was named after my dad. As a kid he was called Johnny by family but now I'm the only one who still says it. My dad's family once tried to call him Johnny Boy and my mom put a stop to it real quick. Beware of that nickname, it comes up often. Overall, I think it's a classic, handsome name.
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John just seems like a straight up cool name. I like the sound of it. It has a nice niche of being so incredibly stereotypically English that it's great for a character.
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I like this name. It is incredibly common though.
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Marvelous. Handsome, strong, rugged name. I love the nickname "Johnny" for boy-- and even on grown men, if they choose to keep it.
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It's a really classic name, that somehow manages to stay GOOD throughout the years. It's quite typical to think of it as an older man's name, but I think it's able to transcend well throughout all stages of life; from child to adulthood. And I quite like it, because of that. :3
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Current [2011] leader of the Canadian New Democratic Party (NDP) is Jack Layton, born John Gilbert Layton.
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I don't like John at all. It's not even the immense popularity of the name that does it-it's just that I find it an incredibly boring name.
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John Wayne Gacy, anyone?
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British actor John Simm, who starred in the original (and vastly superior) version of 'Life On Mars' is a famous bearer.
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I don't like this name at all. Normally, I don't care about the popularity of a name one way or another, but for some reason the popularity of the name John bothers me. To me, it's one of the most generic and boring names on the planet. Even though the popularity has gone down some, it's still ranked at #26 in the U.S., which means that it's fairly popular. Because it's been a popular name for centuries, I know tons of people named John of all ages-from old men to newborn babies, and I'm tired of hearing it. Also, I just don't like the sound of the name, regardless of popularity. I also wouldn't want to use a name that is slang for both a toilet and the client of a prostitute.
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I think it's a nice name, but way too common on the older crowd.
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John Cooper from Skillet. He's cute, keep the mohawk John! :)
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In the TV series "The Mentalist" Red John is the antagonist who killed the main characters family.
Also John Doe is used by police and hospitals on unidentified males.
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Also John Doe is used by police and hospitals on unidentified males.
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When our son was born and we announced his name was John, the delivering doctor said, "no one names their son John anymore!" I have been teaching for 5 years and have had three Johnathons; but no John. To those who think we lack imagination, please when you have a child with a unique name just don't have a eweneek spelling; it is hell on us teachers and only shows your lack of education. Refer to Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner and pay particular attention to the chapter "Would a Roshanda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet."
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A famous bearer is American voice actor John Gremillion (born 11 June 1967). He's known for his extensive work as a voice actor in English language versions of Japanese anime films and television series.
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John Greenleaf Whittier. He engraved a poem on the accused "witch" Rebecca Nurse's grave stone. (it was nice!)
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"What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."- Union Army General John Sedgwick's ironic last words.
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John MILTON the second greatest English poet- only Shakespeare was greater! Author of the great epic 'Paradise Lost' and promoter of freedom of the press.
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I knew several John's, but if you look at the charts, the popularity is going down. If you look at the percentage, you would know the name WAS popular, but in 1980 it holds only 2%. Now, less than 1%.
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John isn't all that common anymore. You don't see many people under 20 named John. A child born in 2010 named John would probably be the only one in his class, surrounded by a sea of Jaydens, Kaydens, Aidens, and Bradens.
This name is far more "unique" than any of the currently trendy names, and it actually has a history and meaning.
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This name is far more "unique" than any of the currently trendy names, and it actually has a history and meaning.
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A famous bearer is American actor John Krasinski (born October 20, 1979). He's well-known for his film roles in "Shrek the Third", "Leatherheads", and "License to Wed", but is perhaps best-known as Jim Halpert on the American version of "The Office",
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A famous bearer is American actor John Francis Daley (born July 20, 1985). He's best known for his TV roles as Sam Weir in "Freaks & Geeks" and Lance Sweets in "Bones".
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I have met and known a lot of people with the first name John, and I find it interesting that almost all of them were called by something else, such as Jack, Marshall, Billy, and Wilson.
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Another famous bearer is my favorite artist John William Waterhouse.
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I can think of a ton of people with this name right off the top of my head:
John Denver
John Deacon
Elton John
Johnny Cash
John Prine
Johnny-come-lately (that one's a joke)
John Travolta
and my uncle John!
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John Denver
John Deacon
Elton John
Johnny Cash
John Prine
Johnny-come-lately (that one's a joke)
John Travolta
and my uncle John!
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I don't go for names that are popular or common. I like a lot of people who are John and I think it suits a lot of them, but it's not a name I would give to anyone. Even if it's a name that's dying out, it's still a name that's been around forever and I'd rather go with nice, but new names.
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John Newton was the author of "Amazing Grace," one of the world's most well-known and beloved hymns. He was a slave trader for many years until he repented of his evil ways and turned to Jesus for salvation. He became a preacher and encouraged William Wilberforce in his work against the slave trade in England.
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John Yossarian is the protagonist of Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22.
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This is the name of the main protagonist of the Terminator sci-fi film franchise, John Connor.
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This is seriously a really good name--it's simple, but gives off a strong vibe. It's rising down in popularity, so I would recommend naming your boy this. Like others above me said, he'd definitely be "unique". =D
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Famous bearer: John Green, a young adult author who's written "Looking for Alaska", "An Abundance of Katherines", "Paper Towns" and contributed a short story to the novel "Let it Snow". In 2007, he started a project with his younger brother, Hank, where they would go an entire year without emailing each other, instead posting YouTube vlogs on alternating days for the whole year. Throughout the project, the two gained many, many subscribers who call themselves Nerdfighters.
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To everyone who says this name is too popular: it was, yeah, a hundred years ago. But now it's not. So if you like this name, use it!
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Actually, I think this would be a good name for your child if you wanted to be "unique". The popularity of the name John has been constantly falling since the beginning of the 20th century, and that means that all the John-s are dying out. If you had a child right now and named him John, by the time he's 10 a vast majority of the John-s will be dead.
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WOW! No one has mentioned infamous murderer John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865). Booth assassinated beloved American President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 at Ford's Theatre. He fled the theatre and was shot 11 days later by Sergeant Boston Corbett at a farm he fled to in Virginia.
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If you name your kid John, make sure he has a defining middle name to go with it, (like JOHN ALLEN YATES or something) that he's called by most the time. It makes the common "John" sound more than it is, and actually have a nice ring to it.
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Performer, writer, actor John Červenka (30. September 1959, Pasadena, California).
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Never mind. It's a very important name. It's nice.
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John is the first name of J. D. (John Dorian) on the sitcom Scrubs, played by Zach Braff.
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This is a very strong and timeless name. It is also nice as Johnathon, shortened to John. A good pick, but not very unique.
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A famous bearer of the name is (John of Gaunt, the great Duke of Lancaster, son of the king of England in the 1300's). A great book to find out more about him is to read the book Katherine (by Anya Seton) a completely true story and amazing book!
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This has got to be the most boring boys' name out there. Every other American man born before the Fifties has this name, and even today, there are many people with this name. Pick something a little more original.
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John Jay was a Founding Father and signer of the Constitution. He did not sign the Declaration of Independence and encouraged reconciliation with Britain, but eventually became more radical and a Patriot. He was elected to the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress. He was voted the President of the Congress for two years. He served on the New York Supreme Court as its chief, as the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, as a diplomat who negotiated Jay's Treaty, and governor of New York, where he eventually passed a bill abolishing slavery after several unsuccessful attempts and emancipating current slaves. He would purchase slaves and set them free once they reached adulthood. He lived from December 12, 1745 to May 17, 1827.
John Marshall (Sept. 24, 1755-July 6, 1835) served for the entire duration of the Revolutionary War and was a leader of the Federalist Party. The fourth Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, he was nominated by President Adams. He is noted as being the longest serving Chief Justice in American History and for establishing "judicial review", the process by which the courts can declare laws unconstitutional and strike them down. He helped the Court become an independent and objective force in American politics. He was also one of three US delegates during the XYZ Affair. Supposedly, the crack in the Liberty Bell was caused as the bell rang to announce Marshall's death.
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John Marshall (Sept. 24, 1755-July 6, 1835) served for the entire duration of the Revolutionary War and was a leader of the Federalist Party. The fourth Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, he was nominated by President Adams. He is noted as being the longest serving Chief Justice in American History and for establishing "judicial review", the process by which the courts can declare laws unconstitutional and strike them down. He helped the Court become an independent and objective force in American politics. He was also one of three US delegates during the XYZ Affair. Supposedly, the crack in the Liberty Bell was caused as the bell rang to announce Marshall's death.
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Number 18 for boys in 2005.
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Aww, this is an adorable name, but it's a bit too popular. However, I'm assuming it's popular because so many people like it! If you absolutely adore it (like me), but think it's too popular, use it as a middle name.
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John Barrowman is an actor known for his role as Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and its spinoff series Torchwood.
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"John Sheppard" is the name of a regular character on the Sci-Fi TV show "Stargate: Atantis".
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This is possibly the dullest name choice you could make, even if safe in the sense that it doesn't sound bad on an adult, and it can be turned to Johnny for kids. I bet there are millions of guys in the English-speaking world named John who were simply unwanted children, and the parents didn't bother much with being innovative and imaginative in the name choice, so they just chose a popular, common name like this. It could also be that many Johns were wanted, but the parents sucked with imagination, so they just picked a common name to get it over with, or named the son after someone in the family.
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I just responded to your comment on the William page that boys named William were unwanted, only to come to the John page and find you making the same comment. It's just as offensive and insulting when applied to John as it is to William. My brother is named John after his father and he was wanted. My mother and her first husband wanted to give him the same name, and this in NO way implies that he was unwanted. Plus my mother liked the name anyway, and she had an unusual name and hated it, therefore she thought it was best to give her children popular names. Please stop making this silly accusation about every common, popular boys' name. Seriously.
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I really wish this name wasn't so popular. I love it. I would still consider using it though. But I really hate the nickname "Jack" so if I named a son John, he'd just be John.
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A famous bearer is Dr. John Zoidberg from the TV series Futurama. I love that show.
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John Maher, more commonly known as Johnny Marr, was a member of the 80s rock band The Smiths. He was their guitarist.
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John Barrowman, actor.
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John and Jonathan are etymologically unrelated.
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I want to name my second son John. My first son will be named James Michael after my father. It personally doesn't matter to me whether a name is really popular or not. My name is very popular (there were there 3 Jacobs in my marching band, for example). After all, names become popular for a reason.
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John Cale (born 1942) is a musician, best known for his work in the New York band "The Velvet Underground", who were associated with Warhol's "Factory" in the sixties. He has also worked as a classical musician, as a solo artist and as a producer for many artists including Nico, Patti Smith, The Stooges, Jonathan Richman and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
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John Forbes Nash (1928-present) is the Senior Research Mathematician at Princeton University. He won the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. He shared the prize with Reinhard Selten and John Harsanyi.
In 2001, "A Beautiful Mind" was a movie made about his life, starring Russell Crowe as John. The movie focused on John's struggle with schizophrenia and mathematical equatons.
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In 2001, "A Beautiful Mind" was a movie made about his life, starring Russell Crowe as John. The movie focused on John's struggle with schizophrenia and mathematical equatons.
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I love this name! But I must say I prefer it as Jon. This name is very popular, but I still like it. Popular or not, this name is very sweet.
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I don't know why, but John sounds a little too strong for a little boy or baby. I would prefer to name him John and call him Johnny.
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It's a pretty good name, I guess, but it's way too common! I know three Johns already! (with one spelled Jon)
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I used to think of this name as plain. But as I get older, and realize many of the names I loved at 15, I hate today, I've grown to appreciate classic names and understand why some new parents use them. I still wouldn't use John, and want something more distinctive, but still classic for a boy. But if forced to choose between John and Hayden, Jayden, Aiden, I would choose John - hands down.
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John sounds strong and masculine to me.
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John was so popular in the past! 29% of men were named John from at least 1530-1700. John also used to be way more popular as the whole first name, not a nickname for Jonathan. Both are good in my opinion.
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Another famous bearer was John Newton, a former slave-trader who, when faced with the possiblity that his ship would sink and the wrongs he had done to many African people, chose to become a priest and inspired by the event with his ship wrote the hymm Amazing Grace.
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I adore this name. It's a nice, timeless name. I will be naming my first son John.
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I like the name John as a middle name.
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A famous bearer of this name is Academy-Award winning actor Jack Lemmon (1925-2001), who was born John Uhler Lemmon III.
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John Barrymore (1882-1942), actor of the stage and screen, and grandfather to actress Drew Barrymore, is a famous bearer of this name.
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John Doe is a name often referring to an unexisting person being used for an example, such as often when filling out an email: ex- johndoe@address.com
More on John Doe - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe
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More on John Doe - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe
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John Leguizamo is a famous Columbian-American comedian/actor, who played such roles as Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge, Tybalt in Romeo + Juliet, and most recently Sid in the Ice Age movies.
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Chalk me up as another person who ADORES this name but wishes it wasn't so popular/common.
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John Tracy is an astronaut/space monitor in the classic British TV series Thunderbirds.
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JOHN HOWARD, the prime minister of Australia, is definitely a FAMOUS bearer of this name.
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Hugely popular name! But good and classic all the same, if you need something fool-proof to name your boy.
Just a few of my associations.
-John Rzeznik (lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls, a popular rock band)
-Johnny Depp (a VERY famous actor. If you don't know him already, I'm seriously worried about you)
-Johnny Cash (famous American folk singer)
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Just a few of my associations.
-John Rzeznik (lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls, a popular rock band)
-Johnny Depp (a VERY famous actor. If you don't know him already, I'm seriously worried about you)
-Johnny Cash (famous American folk singer)
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Forgot about Jon Bonjovi! He's a cool John too.
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Also, Johnny Storm (aka, the Human Torch) is one of the members of the Fantastic Four superhero team. Chris Evans played him in the recent movie adaptations.
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One of my best friends' name is John. I never liked the name until I met him this year in high school, now it's okay, but definitely overused.
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John Oliver is a British comedian currently seen on The Daily Show.
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In fact, there have only been 22 popes who bore the name John, because John XX never existed (try to look for him at wikipedia.org, and you'll see). [noted -ed]
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A famous bearer of the name John is John Denver (his real name was Henry John Dutshendorf, Jr.). He was an American folk singer and songwriter and is best known for the song 'Rocky Moutain High', which has become Colorado's official state song.
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What's with everyone and uniqueness? Pretty soon all the unique names are going to be used up. John is a perfectly fine name.
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This name is SO overused. If you like this name, you should at least check the popularity charts. The name has been popular for years!
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Actor/Director John Cassavetes.
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I like the name John. I feel that it is a nice name and more people from this time need to be named it.
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I think I prefer the name Ian. The modern form of John! It's short and sweet!
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John Savage is the protagonist of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
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Sort of uninteresting, but a nice, stable, traditional name. I still like it. I also like the old nickname Jack, although usually today it's mostly given as a name independently, or perhaps for a nickname for Jackson.
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Way too overused. I know at least thirty-five of them.
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A fine, strong name, even though it's a synonym for a 'toilet' and a customer of a prostitute. :)
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What about John Candy and John Belushi, 2 very great and funny actors. I can't believe no one said anything about them. Unfortunately they are both dead.
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I have always liked the name John because it is the name of one of my biggest idols: John Lennon.
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I don't mind this name. I find it a bit boring, but it could fit a lot of personalities. Go ahead and use it if you want to. I prefer the spelling "John". "Jon" seems a bit empty to me.
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Is it possible no one has mentioned Dr. John Watson, narrator of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" short stories and novels?
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One can not forget the late brilliant actor John Wayne, actor of a lot of terrific westerns and WW2 movies.
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This is what my father gets called, since his real name is Johnny. He kids around about the John/toilet thing. I think this is a really good name to have.
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There are authors named John Connolly, John Lescroart, John Sandford aka John Camp and John Saul.
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There are more bearers of the name John. For example, John Rhys-Davies plays in both Lord of the Rings ("Nobody tosses a dwarf!) and Raiders of the Lost Ark ("Asps. Very dangerous. You go first.")
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John David Webster is a Christian music artist.
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John Hancock is the most famous signer of America's Declaration of Independance.
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John Glenn was the FIRST American to orbit the earth!
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I used to think this name was plain, but it is growing on me, and I definitely prefer this classic name to some of the trendy names nowadays. Still, the fact that a toilet can be called a john makes me not want to use it.
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John is American for toilet!
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Another famous bearer is comic book character John Constantine, an occultist.
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Old and overused.
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I really love this name! I do not see how people can hate this name. It is so AWESOME!
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John was the name of the father in the 1970s family drama "The Waltons". It was also the name of the eldest son in the show, though he went by John-Boy.
Dr. John Carter is a character on the popular NBC drama "ER".
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Dr. John Carter is a character on the popular NBC drama "ER".
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Another famous bearer of this name is the 32nd Vice President of the United States: John Nance Garner, "Cactus Jack".
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I hate this name. I don't know why, but I really really do. It's overused and it's just plain ugly. If you're thinking about this name for a kid and you just like the sound, go with Jon, it's much better. I don't like that people use names from the bible, either; I think it's stupid to do that. I'm sorry if I offended anyone and that was just my opinion.
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It puzzles me that skatergirl2 thinks it's stupid to use names from the Bible, yet Noah and Thomas are on her favorites list.
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Just chill out. Yes, you are entitled to your own opinion but it isn't stupid to use biblical names at all. To each their own. If parents want to name their sons John, I say use it. I haven't seen the name John used in any of my boys' classrooms at all. I prefer the spelling John as opposed to Jon.
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I think this is THE MOST beautiful male name there is. I wish that it wasn't so popular. I want to use it in spite of its popularity. GORGEOUS!
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This is Sid Vicious's real name! Why isn't the infamous John Ritchie (Sid) listed?
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Um, hello? Johnny Cash? Also his son John Carter Cash (Carter being his middle name), his only son and child with June Carter Cash.
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John was the middle name of our late President Abraham Lincoln.
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Fictional murderer John Kramer (better known as Jigsaw) is the villian of the gory Saw movies, and its sequels, Saw II and Saw III. When John, played by Tobin Bell, is diagnosed with cancer and receives the news of his death, he sees various people who he thinks are throwing away the live he'll never get to have.
He kidnaps the people and puts them in "games." These games require gory life-and-death desicions, and very, very rarely does the victim survive. He usually leaves a tape player or a TV that comes on, explaining the situation they are in and how to escape.
For example, Paul, a man who had slashed his wrists with a razor, was placed in a cage with hundreds of strands of razor wire in the cage. He had two hours to make it out of the cage, and exit via the door in the room he was in. In two hours, the door would shut, leaving him to die.
In Saw II, it is revealed he has an apprentice, a survivor of John's game. The movies are extremely gory and violent, but intelligent and thrilling.
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He kidnaps the people and puts them in "games." These games require gory life-and-death desicions, and very, very rarely does the victim survive. He usually leaves a tape player or a TV that comes on, explaining the situation they are in and how to escape.
For example, Paul, a man who had slashed his wrists with a razor, was placed in a cage with hundreds of strands of razor wire in the cage. He had two hours to make it out of the cage, and exit via the door in the room he was in. In two hours, the door would shut, leaving him to die.
In Saw II, it is revealed he has an apprentice, a survivor of John's game. The movies are extremely gory and violent, but intelligent and thrilling.
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I cannot believe that no one thought of John Henry Holliday (AKA Doc Holliday). He was indeed a brilliant man and a great dentist (so I am told). The best portrayal of this slight, sensitive man is in TOMBSTONE where he is played by Val Kilmer. I think Doc is lost behind the shadow of Wyatt Earp who is rather overrated.
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Hello? John Paul Jones was the bassist and John Bonham was the drummer for Led Zeppelin.
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The poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, bore this name. There is also author John Bunyan. And, to my disbelief, no one has yet mentioned John Rhys-Davies! And one more: the infamous John Smith of colonial Jamestown.
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Another famous bearer is the brilliant Irish horror author, John Connolly.
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Another famous bearer is John Waters, the unorthodox yet wonderful director.
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Johnny Depp's son, Jack, was born John Christopher Depp III on April 9, 2002.
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I can't believe no one has mentioned John Williams! He is most famous for having composed the score for all six Star Wars movies, but he has done many more as well.
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Jonathan Larson is the writer of RENT.
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John may be considered a common name, but your son is more likely to be alone in school with the name of 'John' than fad names like 'Aiden', 'Jaden', etc. Fad names are, well, fads and names like John will be around as long as people are Christians.
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A famous lefthanded tennis star from the U.S.A, John McEnroe, bears the name.
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A young, intelligent and sexy model-cum-actor in Hollywood and Bollywood, John Abraham bears this name.
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What about John Lydon? The Irish-born musician fronted such bands as the Sex Pistols and Public Image, Ltd.
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Four famous bearers are Presidents, John F, Kennedy, John Tyler, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams.
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A common name, sounds plain but sounds good to me!
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I used the name John as a middle name for my son Adam. My husband and I had been thinking of it as a first name except for one day we heard someone use the term "going to the john" meaning going to the bathroom and we couldn't get that out of our head so we opted to use it as a middle name LOL. I still like the name John, it is a good strong biblical name.
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Famous wrestler John Cena has won the United states championship and has the WWE championship right now.
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Famous bearer of this name is John Gotti from the mafia and his daughter, Victoria, names one of her three children, John (second eldest and quite hot I might add). Love the name!
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I can't believe John R R Tolkien has not been mentioned! Surely he is one of the most famous authors in English literature.
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I don't like it! It is too common.
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Famous bearers:
John Stuart Mill, a British philosopher and economist. He evolved utilitarianism.
John Dewey, an American philosopher, pragmatist and educationist.
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John Stuart Mill, a British philosopher and economist. He evolved utilitarianism.
John Dewey, an American philosopher, pragmatist and educationist.
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Famous bearer is John Steinbeck, an American novelist. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
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John was also the name of the middle child/Wendy's younger brother of the Darlings in Disney's Peter Pan.
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This name is so common! I've known so many John's in real life and heard the name sooo much I've forgotten which is which or who is who lol. But it's actually a Biblical name so it has some meaning.
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John means "A gift from God", despite the popularity of this name, it was a great meaning!
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John Krikfaulsi, creator of the hit 90s cartoon "The Ren and Stimpy Show" has this name.
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In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Remus Lupin's middle name is John.
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The Bulgarian John Atanassov is the creator of the first computer.
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John Snyder is a famous bearer of this name, he played Bo on Dukes of Hazzard.
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Another famous bearer: John Frusciante (pronounced froo-shan-tay), born March 5 1970, current and best guitarist for the LA funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Also, John Locke was a philosopher rather than a poet, and this name is also borne by one of the central characters on the hit TV show 'Lost'.
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Also, John Locke was a philosopher rather than a poet, and this name is also borne by one of the central characters on the hit TV show 'Lost'.
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John Deacon, the bassist of Queen, bears this name.
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Just more famous people: 2 other presidents John Quincy Adams and John Adams.
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Famous Bearers:
Johnny Depp (actor)
John Cusack (actor)
John Travolta (actor)
John Reznick (musician)
John Mayer (musician)
Jonathan Davis (musician)
John Locke (poet)
John Donne (poet)
John Keats (poet)
Long John Silver (pirate)
JFK (politician)
I think John is a very versatile name that allows someone to become who they want because there is no stereotypical "John."
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Johnny Depp (actor)
John Cusack (actor)
John Travolta (actor)
John Reznick (musician)
John Mayer (musician)
Jonathan Davis (musician)
John Locke (poet)
John Donne (poet)
John Keats (poet)
Long John Silver (pirate)
JFK (politician)
I think John is a very versatile name that allows someone to become who they want because there is no stereotypical "John."
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An often overlooked poet among the Romantics is John Clare.
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Dutch varieties:
- Johannes : non-Catholic
- Johannus : Catholic
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- Johannes : non-Catholic
- Johannus : Catholic
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The name John makes me think of a strong hardy man that has a big ego. I like the name John.
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A famous bearer of the name John is John Rzeznik, one of the lead singers of the Goo Goo Dolls. The *cough* Polish third of the band.
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Two other famous Johns are John Donne and John Keats, the English poets, John F. Kennedy, the US president, and John Woolman, eighteenth century American Quaker and opponent of slavery.
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I can't believe that "John Travolta" isn't listed in the namesake section. He is a very, very famous "John"
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I believe John is also a shortened version of Johnathon or Johnathan.
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Another name connected to John that isn't often seen is St. John, pronounced (and often spelled) Sinjin.
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A famous bearer of this name is: John Taylor from the 80's smash band Duran Duran! But his real name is Nigel.
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A famous bearer of this name was John Kerry, who (together with John Edwards) ran against George Bush in the 2004 US election.
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John is considered one of the most traditional boys names and has been very popular for over a century.
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A famous bearer of the name was the musician John Lennon, who was a member of the 1960s band the Beatles. Later Lennon enjoyed solo success alongside his campaigns for peace.
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Maltese version of John = Ganni.
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