How to say it
JOHN
dʒɑn
Masculine
John
God is gracious
What it means
From the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'Yahweh has been gracious.' Carried into Greek as Iōannēs, into Latin as Iohannes, into English as John.
Two apostles (John the evangelist and John the Baptist) made the name foundational in Christian tradition. John was the most-given English boys' name for centuries and still ranks comfortably in the US top thirty. Every European language has its own form: Spanish Juan, Italian Giovanni, French Jean, German Johann, Russian Ivan, Welsh Ieuan, Irish Seán. All the same name. The nickname Jack (originally a Middle English pet form of John) shifted long ago into its own given name. Other short forms: Johnny, Jon.
How to spell John
The standard spelling is John. Common variants include Jon, Juan, Giovanni, Jean, Johann, Ivan, Yochanan, but John is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #1 in 1880, currently #23 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
- Nickname
Jack started as a short for John in the 13th century and has been a standalone for centuries. Johnny is the diminutive that still reads as a nickname.
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.
- John F. Kennedy 35th US president, 1961-1963
- John Lennon Beatle, singer, peace activist
- John the Baptist New Testament prophet who baptized Jesus
- John Coltrane American jazz saxophonist, A Love Supreme
Spelling variants
- Jon
- Juan
- Giovanni
- Jean
- Johann
- Ivan
- Yochanan
Names with the same feeling
See John from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name John mean?
- From the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'Yahweh has been gracious.' Carried into Greek as Iōannēs, into Latin as Iohannes, into English as John.
- What does John mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, John means "God is gracious." Two apostles (John the evangelist and John the Baptist) made the name foundational in Christian tradition. John was the most-given English boys' name for centuries and still ranks comfortably in the US top thirty. Every European language has its own form: Spanish Juan, Italian Giovanni, French Jean, German Johann, Russian Ivan, Welsh Ieuan, Irish Seán. All the same name. The nickname Jack (originally a Middle English pet form of John) shifted long ago into its own given name. Other short forms: Johnny, Jon.
- How do you pronounce John?
- John is pronounced dʒɑn. Say it as JOHN, with the stress on the "john" syllable.
- How do you spell John?
- The standard spelling is John. Common spelling variants include Jon, Juan, Giovanni, Jean, Johann, Ivan, Yochanan.
- Is John a boy or girl name?
- John is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name John?
- John ranked #23 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.