John (given name)

{{Short description|Name list}}

{{redirect|John (name)|the surname|John (surname)}}

{{Infobox name

| name = John

| image = Saint John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness by Anton Raphael.png

| image_size =

| caption = 18th century painting of John the Baptist by Anton Raphael Mengs

| pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɒ|n}} {{respell|JON}}

| meaning="YHWH has been Gracious",{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=John}} "Graced by YHWH" (Johanan)

| gender = Male

| language = English

| region =

| usage =

| origin = Hebrew

| alternative spelling =

| nickname = Johnny, Jack, Jackie

| name day = June 24

| derived =

| popularity = yes

| footnotes =

| related names = Evan, Eoin, Evandro, Evaristo, Euan, Ewan, Giannis, Giovanni, Hanan, Hans, Hovhannes, Ian, Ieuan, Ioan, Ioane, Ioannis, Ivan, Iven, Ifan, Jaan, Jack, Jackson, Jan, Jane, Janez, János, Jean, Jens, Joan, João, Jahan, Johan/Johann, Johanan, Johannes, Johnny, Jone, Jonni, Jovan, Juha, Juhani, Juan, Sean, Sion, Shane, Yahya, Yannis, Yohannes, Yo-han, Yunus, Xoán

}}

John ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɒ|n}} {{respell|JON}}) is a common male name in the English language ultimately of Hebrew origin.

The English form is from Middle English Ioon, Ihon, Iohn, Jan (mid-12c.), itself from Old French Jan, Jean, Jehan (Modern French Jean),[https://www.etymonline.com/word/john John on Online Etymology Dictionary] from Medieval Latin Johannes, altered form of Late Latin Ioannes, or the Middle English personal name is directly from Medieval Latin,Hoad, TF (ed), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, 1993, Oxford University Press, p. 248a {{ISBN|0-19-283098-8}} which is from the Greek name Ioannis (Ιωάννης), originally borne by Jews transliterating the Hebrew name Yochanan ({{Script/Hebrew|יוֹחָנָן}}), the contracted form of the longer name {{transliteration|he|Yehochanan}} ({{Script/Hebrew|יְהוֹחָנָן}}), meaning "YHWH is Gracious" or "YHWH is Merciful". There are numerous forms of the name in different languages; these were formerly often simply translated as "John" in English but are increasingly left in their native forms (see sidebar).{{citation |last1=Hanks |first1=Patrick |last2=Hardcastle |author-link1=Patrick Hanks |first2=Kate |last3=Hodges |first3=Flavia |title=A Dictionary of First Names |edition=2nd |series=Oxford Paperback Reference |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-861060-1 |page=146}} The name Jonathan (or Jon) derives from a distinct Biblical name Yonatan ( "given by God").{{Cite web |title=What Does the Name John Mean? |url=https://www.parents.com/john-name-meaning-origin-popularity-8630955 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Parents |language=en}}

The name is among the most commonly given names in the Anglophone, Arabic, European, Latin American, Iranian, and Turkic countries. Traditionally in the Anglosphere, it was the most common, although it has not been since the latter half of the 20th century.

John owes its unique popularity to two highly revered saints, John the Baptist (forerunner of Jesus Christ) and the apostle John (traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of John); the name has since been chosen as the regnal or religious name of many emperors, kings, popes and patriarchs. Initially, it was a favorite name among the Greeks, but it flourished in all of Europe after the First Crusade.Behind the Name: John.

Origins

{{More citations needed section|date=July 2009}}

File:Yohanan name evolution.svg

The name John is a theophoric name originating from the Hebrew name {{Script/Hebrew|יוֹחָנָן}} ({{transliteration|he|Yôḥānān}}), or in its longer form {{Script/Hebrew|יְהוֹחָנָן}} ({{transliteration|he|Yəhôḥānān}}), meaning "YHWH has been gracious". Several obscure figures in the Old Testament bore this name, and it grew in popularity once borne by the high priest Johanan {{nowrap|(fl. 407 BC)}} and especially by King John Hyrcanus {{nowrap|(d. 104 BC).}} In the Second Temple period, it was the fifth most popular male name among Jews in Judaea{{cite book |title=Jesus Christ and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony |last=Bauckham |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Bauckham |year=2006 |page=70 |isbn=0-8028-3162-1}} and was borne by several important rabbis, such as Yochanan ben Zakai and Yochanan ben Nuri.

= Germanic derivatives =

The Germanic languages, including German, English and Scandinavian produced the masculine Johann

Name statistics

John was the most popular name given to male infants in the United States until 1924, and though its use has fallen off gradually since then, John was still the 20th most common name for boys on the Social Security Administration's list of the names given in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ |title=Popular Baby Names |publisher=Ssa.gov |access-date=February 26, 2011}}

John was also among the most common masculine names in the United Kingdom, but by 2004 it had fallen out of the top 50 names for newborn boys in England and Wales.{{cite web |url=http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/564059.html |title=Top UK baby names 2004 |publisher=Babycentre.co.uk |access-date=February 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060406001124/http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/564059.html |archive-date=April 6, 2006}}

By contrast Jack, which was a nickname for John but is now established as a name in its own right, was the most popular name given to newborn boys in England and Wales every year from 1995 to 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_boys.asp |title=National Statistics |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |date=September 8, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522193009/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_boys.asp |archive-date=May 22, 2011}} It is also the third most common name in the United States, with an estimated 3.18 million individuals as of 2021 according to the Social Security Administration.{{cite web|url=https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=name+john|title=Name John: Wolfram Alpha|date=January 1, 2021|access-date=September 12, 2023|archive-date=February 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230211015325/https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=name+john|url-status=dead}}

In other languages

{{more citations needed section|date=December 2011}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Language

! Masculine form

! Feminine form

Afrikaans

| Jan, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Hannes, Hans

| Hanna, Jana, Janke, Johanna

Adyghe (Circassian)

|Иуан (Iuan)

|

Albanian

| Gjon, Gjin, Joan, Jovan, Jani

| Gjonika, Joana, Jovana, Jana

Alemmanic

| Hans, Hannes, Hansli, Hänsli, Housi, Jänu

|

Alsatian

|Schàngi

|

Amharic

| ዮሐንስ (Yoḥännǝs)

|

Arabicيحيى (Yaḥyā, Qurʾānic), يوحنا (Yūḥannā, Biblical) or حنّا (Henna or Hanna)
Aragonese

| Chuan

| Chuana

{{anchor|Hovhannes|Yovhannēs}}Armenian

| Հովհաննես (Hovhannes); Օհաննես (Ohannes); Classical Armenian: Յովհաննէս (Hovhannēs)

|

Assyrianܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ (Yoḥannān), Yukhannan, Yokhanna
Asturian

| Xuan

| Xuana

Azerbaijani

|Yəhya

|

Basque

| Manez, Ganix, Joanes, Iban

| Ibane, Jone

Bavarian

| Hans, Hanse, Hansi, Hansl, Hannas

|

Belarusian

| Іван (Ivan), Ян (Jan), Янка (Janka), Янэк (Janek), Ясь (Jaś)

| Івонка (Ivonka), Янiна (Janina)

Bangla

| ইয়াহিয়া (Iyahiya), জনি (Jony), হান্নান (Hannan)

|

Breton

| Yann, Yannig

| Jan, Janig, Yannez

Bulgarian

| Иван (Ivan), Йоан (Yoan), Янко (Yanko), Яне (Yane)

| Ивана (Ivana), Иванка (Ivanka), Йоан[н]а (Yoana), Яна (Yana), Янка (Yanka)

Burmese (Myanmar)

| ယောဟန် (Yawhaan)

|

Catalan

| Joan, Jan, Ivan

| Joana, Jana, Janna, Ivana

Cantonese

| 約翰 (Yoek-hon)

|

Cherokee

| ᏣᏂ (Tsa-ni)

|

Chinese (Mandarin)

| {{zh |s = 约翰 |t = 約翰 |p = Yuēhàn }}

|

Coptic

| ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (Iohannes), ⲓⲱⲁ (Ioa)

|

Cornish

| Jowan, Jan

|

Corsican

| Ghjuvanni

| Ghjuvanna

Croatian

| Ivan, Ivanko, Ive, Ivek, Ivica, Ivo, Janko, Vanja, Jan

| Iva, Ivana, Ivanka, Vanja, Jana

Czech

| Jan, Honza, Hanuš

| Jana, Johana, Johanka

Danish

| Hans, Jens, Jan, Johan, John, Johannes

| Hanne, Johanne

Dagbani

| Jɔn

|

Dawan

| Yohanes

| Yohana

Dholuo

| Johana

|

Dutch

| Han, Hannes, Hans, Jan, Johan, Johannes, Jannes, Jens, Wannes, Sjeng

| Hanne, Hanna, Hannah, Jana, Janke, Janne, Janneke, Jannetje, Jantje, Johanna

Emiliano-Romagnolo

| Guiàn, Zvan

|

English

| Johnny (diminutive), Jack (diminutive), Shawn/Shaun, Shane, Jan

| Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Joann, Jan, Jane, Jayne, Jayna, Janet, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeane, Jeanne, Jeannie, Shany

Estonian

| Jaan, Juhan, Juho, Janno, Jukk, Jaanus, Johannes, Hannes, Hans

| Jaana, Johanna

Esperanto

| Johano

|

Extremaduran

| Huan

|

Faroese

| Jann, Janus, Jens, Jenis, Jóan, Jóannes, Jónar, Jógvan, Jóhann, Jóhannes, Hannis, Hanus, Hans{{cite web |url=http://malrad.fo/page.php?Id=113&l=fo |title=Málráðið |author=Faroe Media |access-date=2015-04-08 |archive-date=2023-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405145234/http://malrad.fo/page.php?Id=113&l=fo |url-status=dead }}

|

Fijian

| Jone, Ioane

|

Filipino

| Juan

| Juana

Finnish

| Johannes, Jonni, Jussi, Janne, Jani, Juho, Juha, Juhana, Juhani, Jukka, Hannes, Hannu,[https://www.kotus.fi/nyt/kolumnit_artikkelit_ja_esitelmat/tiesitko_taman_%282004_2014%29/johanneksesta Kotus.fi] Joni, Jonne

| Johanna, Joanna, Jonna, Janette, Janna, Jaana, Hanna, Hanne

French

| Jean, Yoann, Jan, Jehan (outdated)

| Jeanne, Jeannette (short), Jane, Jehane (outdated)

Friulian

| Zuan, Nani, Neto, Zan, Zaneto

| Zuane, Gjovane, Joane, Nane, Zuanine

Galician

| Xoán, Xan

| Xoana

Ge'ez

| ዮሐንስ (Yoḥännǝs)

|

Georgian

| იოანე (Ioane), ივანე (Ivane), იოვანე (Iovane), ვანო (Vano), ივა (Iva)

|

German

| Hannes, Hans, Johann, Johannes, Jan, Hanno, Jens, Jannik

| Jana, Janina, Johanna, Hanna, Hanne

Greek

| Ιωάννης (Ioannis), Γιάννης (Yiannis, sometimes Giannis)

| Ιωάννα (Ioanna), Γιάννα (Yianna, sometimes Gianna)

Greenlandic

| Juaanasi, Juaansi

|

Guaraní

| Huã

|

Gujarati

| યોહાન (Yōhāna)

|

Hawaiian

| Keoni, ʻIoane

|

Hausa

| Yahaya

|

Hebrewיוחנן (Yoḥanan), יהוחנן (Yehoḥanan)יוחנה (Yôḥannā) Johanna
Hindi

| यूहन्ना (Yuhanna), Yohana, Ayan

|

Hmong

| Yauhas

|

Hungarian

| János, Jani, Jancsi (monikers)

| Johanna, Hanna, Zsanett, Janka

Icelandic

| Jóhann, Jóhannes, Jón, Hannes

| Jóhanna

Igbo

| Jọn

|

Indonesian/Malay

| Iwan, Yahya, Yan, Yaya, Johan, Yohanes, Yuan, John

| Yohana, Yana, Hana

Interlingua

| Luan

| Luana

Irish

| Seán, Eoin

| Seána, Seona, Síne, Sinéad, Siobhán, Siún

Italian

| Gianni, Giovanni, Vanni, Nino, Vannino

| Giovanna,

Jèrriais (Norman)

| Jeaun

|

Japanese

| {{vanchor|ヨハネ}} (Yohane), {{vanchor|ジョン}} (Jon)

|

Javanese

| Yohanes, Yokanan

|

Kannada

| ಯೋಹಾನನು (Yōhānanu)

|

Kazakh

| Жақия (Jaqıyya), Шоқан (Şoqan)

|

Khmer

| យ៉ូហាន (Yauhan)

|

Kikuyu

| Johana, Yoane

|

Korean

| 요한 (Yohan){{cite web |url=http://bible.cbck.or.kr/bible_read.asp?p_code=&GS=S&Bible=49&Jang=1&x=29&y=7 |title=성경 (See e.g. Luke 1:13,60,63) |publisher=Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea |language=ko |access-date=January 23, 2013 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191829/http://bible.cbck.or.kr/bible_read.asp?p_code=&GS=S&Bible=49&Jang=1&x=29&y=7 |url-status=dead }}

|

Kyrgyz

| Жакан (Jakan), Жакыя (Jakıya), Жаныш (Janısh), Жунус (Junus)

|

Kristang

| Juang

|

Kupang Malay

| Yohanis

| Yohana

K'iche'

|Xwan

|Xwa'n

Lao

|ໂຢຮັນ (Yo-han)

|

Latgalian

|Juoņs

|

Latvian

| Jānis, Janis, Jancis, Janka, Jans, Jāns, Jānuss, Jānušs, Jonass, Žans, Žanis, Džons, Džonijs, Džanni, Džovanni, Ians, Īans, Džeks, Šeins, Johans, Hans, Hanss, Ansis, Johaness, Johanness, Johanāns, Haness, Hanness, Ivans, Aivans, Aivens, Aiens

| Jana, Janīna, Janīne, Džoana, Džoanna, Džanīna, Dženeta, Johanna, Hanna, Anna

Limburgish

| Jan, Johan, Joannes, Hens, Hannes, Sjang

|

Lithuanian

| Jonas

|

Livonian

| Jōņ, Jōņi, Jāņ, Jāņi

|

Lombard

| Giuàn

|

Luxembourgish

| Gehan, Gehanes, Haans, Jann, Jang, Jean

|

Macedonian

| Јован (Jovan), Јованче (Jovanče), Иван (Ivan), Јане (Jane)

| Јована (Jovana), Јованка (Jovanka), Ивана (Ivana), Иванка (Ivanka), Јана (Jana)

Malagasy

| Jaona, Joany

|

Malayalam

| യോഹന്നാൻ (Yōhannān) ഉലഹന്നാൻ (Ulahannan) ലോനപ്പൻ (Lonappan) നയിനാ൯ (Nainan, Ninan)

|

Maltese

| Ġwanni, Ġanni, Ġann, Ġovann, Ġovanni, Vanni

| Ġanna, Ġovanna, Ġannina

Mandaic

| Yuhana

|

Manx

| Juan, Ean

|

Māori

| Hoani,{{cite web|url=http://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/1300|title=Hoani - Māori Dictionary|first=|last=www.netvalue.nz|website=maoridictionary.co.nz|accessdate=21 October 2018}} Hōne{{cite web|url=http://whakapapa.maori.org.nz/lists.php?list_id=67 |title=Whakapapa Club | Maori Genealogy Research @ whakapapa.maori.org.nz – Lists of Names for Whakapapa – Genealogy: Maori / English Name Translations |publisher=Whakapapa.maori.org.nz |date=2011-03-21 |accessdate=2015-12-24}}

|

Marathi

| योहान (Yōhāna)

|

Meitei (Manipuri)

| ꯖꯣꯍꯥꯟꯅꯥ (Johanna), ꯖꯣꯍꯥꯟ (Johan)

|

Mongolian

| Иохан (Iokhan)

|

Montenegrin

| Ivan, Janko, Jovan

|

Navajo

| Jáan

|

Nepali

| यूहन्ना (Yūhannā)

|

Norwegian

| Johan, Johannes, John, Jon, Jan, Hans

|

Northern Sami

| Jovnna, Juhán

|

Occitan

| Joan

|

Persianیوحنا (Yohannan), یحیی (Yahya), جان (Jaan), جهان (Jahan)
Piedmontese

| Gioann

|

Polish

| Jan, Janusz, Janek, Janko, Jaś, Jasiek, Jasiu, Janik, Jancio, Januszek, Janiczek, Janeczek

| Janina, Jana, Janka, Jasia, Jaśka, Joanna, Żaneta, Żanna

Portuguese

| João

| Joana

Punjabi

| ਯੂਹੰਨਾ (Yūhanā)

|

Quechua

| Huwan

|

Romanian

| Ioan, Ion, Ionuț, Ionel, Ionică, Nelu, Iancu

| Ioana, Ionela

Romansh

| Gian, Giovannes

|

Russian

| Иван (Ivan), Иоанн (Ioann, from Hebrew)

|

Samoan

| Ioane

| Ioana

Samogitian

| Juons

|

Sardinian

| Giuanni, Giuanne, Zuvanne, Zuanne, Nanni, Nanneddu

|

Scots

| Jock, Euan/Ewen/Ewan

| Shona

Scottish Gaelic

| Iain, Eòin, Seathan, Shean

| Seòna, Seònag, Seònaid, Siubhan, Sìne

Serbian

| Ivan, Janko, Jovan, Jovica, Vanja

| Jovana, Jovanka, Vanja

Shona

| Johani

|

Sicilian

| Giuvanni, Giuanni

| Giuvanna, Giuanna

Sinhala

| ජුවාම් (Juwam), යොහාන් (Yohan)

|

Slovak

| Ján, Johan

| Jana, Johana

Slovene

| Janez, Ivan, Ivo, Jan, Janko

|

Somali

| Yaxye

|

Sorbian

| Jan

|

Spanish

| Juan, Joan, Giovanni, Iván, Nino

| Juana, Joana, Giovanna, Ivana, Nina

Swahili

| Yohana

|

Swedish

| Jan, Johan, Johannes, John, Hans, Hannes, Jöns{{cite book|title=Svenska Akademiens ordbok|date=1934|edition=Spalt J 502 band 13, 1934|url=http://www.saob.se/artikel/?seek=j%C3%B6ns&pz=1#U_J259_260527|access-date=28 June 2016}}

| Johanna, Hanna

Sylheti

| ইয়াহিয়া (Iyahiya), জনি (Jony), হান্নান (Hannan)

|

Syriacܝܘܚܢܢ (Yuḥanon), ܚܢܐ (Ḥanna), ܐܝܘܢ (Ewan)
Tagalog

| Juan, Dyon

|

Tajik

| Яҳьё (Jahʹjo)

|

Tamil

| யோவான் (Yovaan)

|

Telugu

| యెాహాను Yohanu

| యెాహన్న Yohanna

Thai

| ยอห์น (Yaawn)

|

Tigrinya

| ዮሓንስ (Yoḥannǝs)

|

Tongan

| Sione

|

Turkish

| Yahya, Yuhanna

|

Turkmen

| Ёханна (Yohanna)

|

Ukrainian

| Іван (Ivan), Іванко (Ivanko), Івась (Ivaś), Ян (Jan), Ясь (Jaś), Ваньо (Vanio)

| Іванна (Ivanna), Іванка (Ivanka), Яна (Jana)

Urduیوحنا (Yúhanná)
Uzbek

| Yahyo

|

Valencian

| Joan

| Joana

Venetian

| Joàni, Xan, Xane, Zuane

|

Vietnamese

| Dương, Giăng, Gioan

|

Walloon

| Jan, Djihan

|

Welsh

| Evan, Ianto, Ieuan, Ifan, Ioan, Iwan, Siôn

| Siân, Sioned, Siwan

West Frisian

| Jannes, Jenne

|

Yiddishיוחנן‎ (Yoykhonen)
Yoruba

| Johanu

|

Zulu

| Johane

|

People named John

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  • John Custis (1678–1749), North American Colonial British politician
  • John Parke Custis (1754–1781), son of Martha Washington
  • John Weddell (1583–1642), English sea captain of the East India Company
  • John Wayles (1715–1773), American colonial planter and slave trader

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See also

References