How to say it
GIAN · ni
ˈdʒɑː.ni
Masculine
Gianni
God is gracious
What it means
An Italian short form of Giovanni, the Italian John, 'God is gracious.'
Gianni is the Italian short form of Giovanni, the Italian version of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' Yes, Gianni is short for Giovanni, much the way Johnny is short for John in English, though plenty of Italian boys carry Gianni on the birth certificate in its own right. The gi- is soft, like the English J, so the name lands as JAH-nee. It wears a certain dolce-vita polish, bound up with Italian style and industry through figures like designer Gianni Versace and Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli. Warm, quick, and unmistakably Italian.
How to spell Gianni
The standard spelling is Gianni. Common variants include Giovanni, Johnny, Gianny, but Gianni is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #354 in 2020, currently #524 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Gianni is a short form of Giovanni, the Italian John, and is also used as a given name on its own.
- Pronunciation
The gi- is soft, like the English J, so Gianni is said JAH-nee.
- Pop culture
Designer Gianni Versace made the name a byword for Italian style.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Gianni Versace Italian fashion designer who founded the house of Versace
- Gianni Infantino president of FIFA since 2016
- Gianni Agnelli Fiat industrialist and enduring Italian style icon
- Gianni Rivera Ballon d'Or-winning footballer for AC Milan and Italy
Spelling variants
- Giovanni
- Johnny
- Gianny
Names with the same feeling
See Gianni from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Gianni mean?
- An Italian short form of Giovanni, the Italian John, 'God is gracious.'
- What does Gianni mean in Italian?
- In Italian, Gianni means "God is gracious." Gianni is the Italian short form of Giovanni, the Italian version of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' Yes, Gianni is short for Giovanni, much the way Johnny is short for John in English, though plenty of Italian boys carry Gianni on the birth certificate in its own right. The gi- is soft, like the English J, so the name lands as JAH-nee. It wears a certain dolce-vita polish, bound up with Italian style and industry through figures like designer Gianni Versace and Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli. Warm, quick, and unmistakably Italian.
- Is Gianni short for Giovanni?
- Yes. Gianni is a short form of Giovanni, and it carries the same meaning, "God is gracious." These days many parents use Gianni as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Gianni?
- Gianni is pronounced ˈdʒɑː.ni. Say it as GIAN-ni, with the stress on the "gian" syllable.
- How do you spell Gianni?
- The standard spelling is Gianni. Common spelling variants include Giovanni, Johnny, Gianny.
- Is Gianni a boy or girl name?
- Gianni is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Gianni?
- Gianni ranked #524 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.