John (given name)

John (/ɒn/; JON) is a common male given name in the English language ultimately of Hebrew origin. The English form is from Middle English Ion, Ihon, Jon, Jan (mid-12c.), itself from Old French Jan, Jean, Jehan (Modern French Jean),[2] from Medieval Latin Johannes, altered form of Late Latin Ioannes,[2] or the Middle English personal name is directly from Medieval Latin,[3] which is from the Greek name Ioannis (Ιωάννης), originally borne by Hellenized Jews transliterating the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), the contracted form of the longer name Yehochanan (יְהוֹחָנָן), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" or "Yahweh 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).[4]

John
18th century painting of John the Baptist by Anton Raphael Mengs
Pronunciation/ɒn/
GenderMale
Name dayJune 24
Origin
Word/nameHebrew
Meaning"Yahweh has been Gracious",[1] "Graced by Yahweh" (Johanan)
Other names
Nickname(s)Jack, Johnny, Jackie
Related namesEvan, Eoin, Evandro, Evaristo, Ewan, Giannis, Giovanni, Hanan, Hans, Hovhannes, Ian, Iban, Ieuan, Ioan, Ioane, Ioannis, Ivan, Iven, Ifan, Jaan, Jack, Jackson, Jan, Jane, Janez, Janos, Jean, Jens, Joan, João, Johan /Johann, Johanan, Johannes, Johnny, Jon, Jone, Jovan, Juan, Owen, Sean, Shane, Yahya, Yannis, Yohannes, Yunus
Popularitysee popular names

It is among the most commonly given names in 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.[5]

Origins

John, a name of Hebrew origin, is very popular in the Western World, and has given many variants depending on the language: Shaun, Eoin, Ian, Juan, Ivan, and Yahya. Click on the image to see the diagram in full detail.

The name John is a theophoric name originating from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥānān), or in its longer form יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhôḥānān), meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".[1] Several obscure figures in the Old Testament bore this name, and it grew in popularity once borne by the high priest Johanan (fl. 407 BC) and especially by King John Hyrcanus (d. 104 BC). In the second temple period, it was the fifth most popular male name among Jews in Judaea[6] 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 (also Johan (Dutch)), Joan,[7] Jan and Janke (Dutch), Jannis, Jens (Danish and Frisian), Jóhannes, Jóhann, (Icelandic and Faroese), Jöns (Swedish), Hans (German, Dutch and Scandinavian).[8]

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 names given in 2006.[9]

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.[10] 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.[10][11] 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.[12]

In other languages

Language Masculine form Feminine form
AfrikaansJan, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Hannes, HansHanna, Jana, Janke, Johanna
Adyghe (Circassian) Иуан (Iuan)
AlbanianGjon, Gjin, Joan, JaniGjonika
Alemmanic Hans, Hannes, Hansli, Hänsli, Housi, Jänu
Alsatian Schàngi
Amharicዮሐንስ (Yoḥännǝs)
Arabicيحيى (Yaḥyā, Qurʾānic), يوحنا (Yūḥannā, Biblical) or حنّا (Henna or Hanna)
Aramaic (Syriac)ܝܘܚܢܢ (Yuḥanon), ܚܢܐ (Henna or Hanna), ܐܝܘܢ (Ewan)
AragoneseChuanChuana
ArmenianՀովհաննես (Hovhannes); Օհաննես (Ohannes); Classical Armenian: Յովհաննէս (Hovhannēs)
Assyrian ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ (Yoḥannān), Yukhannan, Yokhanna
AsturianXuanXuana
Azerbaijani Yəhya
BasqueManez, Ganix, Joanes, IbanIbane, Jone
Bavarian Hans, Hanse, Hansi, Hansl, Hannas
BelarusianІван (Ivan), Ян (Jan), Янка (Janka), Янэк (Janek), Ясь (Jaś),Івонка (Ivonka), Янiна (Janina)
Bengaliইয়াহিয়া (Iyahiya), য়াহয়া (Yahya)
BretonYann, YannigJan, Janig, Yannez
BulgarianИван (Ivan), Йоан (Yoan), Янко (Yanko), Яне (Yane)Ивана (Ivana), Иванка (Ivanka), Йоан[н]а (Yoana), Яна (Yana), Янка (Yanka)
Burmese (Myanmar) ယောဟန် (Yawhaan)
CatalanJoan, Jan, IvanJoana, Jana, Janna
Cantonese 約翰 (Yoek-hon)
Cherokee ᏣᏂ (Tsa-ni)
Chinese (Mandarin)simplified Chinese: 约翰; traditional Chinese: 約翰; pinyin: Yuēhàn
Coptic ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (Iohannes), ⲓⲱⲁ (Ioa)
CornishJowan
CorsicanGhjuvanniGhjuvanna
CroatianIvan, Ivanko, Ive, Ivek, Ivica, Ivo, Janko, Vanja, JanIva, Ivana, Ivanka, Vanja, Jana
CzechJan, Honza, HanušJana, Johana, Johanka
DanishHans, Jens, Jan, Johan, Johannes,Hanne, Johanne
DagbaniJɔn
DawanYohanesYohana
Dholuo Johana
DutchHan, Hannes, Hans, Jan, Johan, Johannes, Jannes, Jens, Wannes, SjengHanne, Hanna, Hannah, Jana, Janke, Janne, Janneke, Jannetje, Jantje, Johanna
Emiliano-RomagnoloGuiàn, Zvan
EnglishEvan, Ian, John, Johnny, Jack, Shawn, Sean, Shaun, Shane, ShaniJoan, Joanna, Joanne, Joann, Jan, Jane, Jayne, Jayna, Janet, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeane, Jeanne, Jeannie, Luan, Shany
EstonianJaan, Juhan, Juho, Janno, Jukk, Jaanus, Johannes, Hannes, HansJaana, Johanna
Esperanto Johano
ExtremaduranHuan
FaroeseJann, Janus, Jens, Jenis, Jóan, Jóannes, Jónar, Jógvan, Jóhann, Jóhannes, Hannis, Hanus, Hans[13]
FijianJone, Ioane
FilipinoJuanJuana
FinnishJohannes, Jussi, Janne, Jani, Juho, Juha, Juhana, Juhani, Jukka, Juntti (archaic), Hannes, Hannu[14] Joni, JonneJohanna, Joanna, Jonna, Janette, Janna, Jaana, Hanna, Hanne
FrenchJean, Jehan (outdated)Jeanne, Jeannette (short), Jehane (outdated)
Friulian Zuan, Nani, Neto, Zan, Zaneto Zuane, Gjovane, Joane, Nane, Zuanine
GalicianXoán, XanXoana
Georgianიოანე (Ioane), ივანე (Ivane), იოვანე (Iovane), ვანო (Vano), ივა (Iva)
GermanHannes, Hans, Johannes, Jan, Johann, JensJana, Janina, Johanna, Hanna, Hanne
GreekΙωάννης (Ioannis), Γιάννης (Yiannis, sometimes Giannis)Ιωάννα (Ioanna), Γιάννα (Yianna, sometimes Gianna)
Greenlandic Juaanasi, Juaansi
GuaraníHuã
Gujarati યોહાન (Yōhāna)
HawaiianKeoni, ʻIoane
Hausa Yahaya
Hebrewיוחנן (Yôḥānān) Johananיוחנה (Yôḥannā) Johanna
Hindi यूहन्ना (Yuhanna), Yohana, Ayan
Hmong Yauhas
HungarianJános, Iván, Jancsi (moniker)Johanna, Hanna, Zsanett, Janka
IcelandicJóhann, Jóhannes, Jón, HannesJóhanna
Igbo Jọn
Indonesian/MalayIwan, Yahya, Yan, Yaya, Johan, Yohanes, YuanYohana, Yana, Hana
InterlinguaLuanLuana
IrishSeán, Shaun, EóinSinéad, Seona, Seána Siobhán, Síne, Siún
ItalianGianni, Giovanni, Giannino, Gionino, Ivan, Ivano, Ivo, Vanni, Nino, VanninoGiovanna, Gianna, Giannina, Ivana, Iva, Nina, Vania
Jèrriais (Norman) Jeaun
Japaneseヨハネ (Yohane), ジョン (Jon)
Javanese Yohanes
Kannada ಯೋಹಾನನು (Yōhānanu)
KazakhЖақия (Jaqıyya), Шоқан (Şoqan)
Khmer យ៉ូហាន (Yauhan)
Kikuyu Johana, Yoane
Korean요한 (Yohan)[15]
KyrgyzЖакан (Jakan), Жакыя (Jakıya)
KristangJuang
Kupang MalayYohanisYohana
Lao ໂຢຮັນ (Yo-han)
LatinIohannes, Ioannes, Iohn
LatvianJānis, 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, AiensJana, Janīna, Janīne, Džoana, Džoanna, Džanīna, Dženeta, Johanna, Hanna, Anna
Limburgish Jan, Johan, Joannes, Hens, Hannes, Sjang
LithuanianJonasJanina, Jonė, Janė, Joana
Livonian Jōņ, Jōņi, Jāņ, Jāņi
LombardGiuàn
Low German Jan, Jann, Janes, Jannes
Luxembourgish Gehan, Gehanes, Haans, Jann, Jang, Jean
MacedonianЈован (Jovan), Јованче (Jovanče), Иван (Ivan), Јане (Jane)Јована (Jovana), Јованка (Jovanka), Ивана (Ivana), Иванка (Ivanka), Јана (Jana)
Malayalamയോഹന്നാൻ (Yōhannān) ഉലഹന്നാൻ (Ulahannan) ലോനപ്പൻ (Lonappan) നയിനാ൯ (Nainan, Ninan)
MalteseĠwanni
MandaicYuhana
Manx Juan, Ean
MāoriHoani, Hōne
Marathi योहान (Yōhāna)
Meitei (Manipuri) ꯖꯣꯍꯥꯟꯅꯥ (Johanna) ꯖꯣꯍꯥꯟ (Johan)
Mongolian Иохан (Iokhan)
Montenegrin Ivan, Janko, Jovan
Navajo Jáan
Nepali यूहन्ना (Yūhannā)
NorwegianJohan, Johannes, John, Jon, Jan, Hans
Northern Sami Jovnna, Juhán
Occitan Joan
Persianیوحنا (Yohannan), یحیی (Yahya)
PiedmonteseGioann
PolishJan, JanuszJanina, Joanna, Żaneta
PortugueseJoão, Ivo, Ivan, IvãJoana, Iva, Ivana
Punjabi ਯੂਹੰਨਾ (Yūhanā)
Quechua Huwan
RomanianIoan, Ionuț, Ionel, Ionică, Nelu, IancuIoana, Ionela
Romansh Gian, Giovannes
RussianИван (Ivan), Иоанн (Ioann, Hebrew form), Ян (Yan)Яна (Yana), Жaннa (Zhanna), Иoaннa (Yoanna, Hebrew form)
SamoanIoaneIoana
SamogitianJuons
SardinianGiuanni
ScotsIan, John, Jock,Janet, Jonet
Scottish GaelicIan, Iain, Eòin, Seathan, Euan/Ewan,Seòna, Seònag, Seònaid, Siubhan, Sìne
SerbianIvan, Janko, Jovan, Jovica, VanjaJovana, Jovanka, Vanja
Shona Johani
SicilianGiuvanni, GiuanniGiuvanna, Giuanna
Sinhalaජුවාම් (Juwam), යොහාන් (Yohan)
SlovakJán, JohanJana, Johana
SloveneJanez, Ivan, Ivo, Jan, Janko, Anže, Anžej
Somali Yaxye
Sorbian Jan
SpanishJuan, Giovanni, Ivan, Nino Juana, Giovanna, Ivana, Nina
Swahili Yohana
SwedishJan, Johan, Johannes, John, Hans, HannesJohanna, Hanna
Sylhetiয়াহয়া (Yahya)
Syriac (Aramaic)ܝܘܚܢܢ (Yuḥanon), ܚܢܐ (Ḥanna), ܐܝܘܢ (Ewan)
Tagalog Juan, Dyon
Tajik Яҳьё (Jahʹjo)
Tamilயோவான் (Yovaan)
Telugu యెాహాను Yohanu యెాహన్న Yohanna
Thai ยอห์น (Yaawn)
Tigrinya ዮሓንስ (Yoḥannǝs)
TonganSione
TurkishYahya, Yuhanna
Turkmen Ёханна (Yohanna)
UkrainianІван (Ivan), Іванко (Ivanko), Івась (Ivaś), Ян (Jan), Ясь (Jaś), Ваньо (Vanio)Іванна (Ivanna), Іванка (Ivanka), Яна (Jana)
Urdu یوحنا (Yúhanná)
Uzbek Yahyo
ValencianJoanJoana
Venetian Joàni, Xan, Xane
VietnameseDương, Giăng, Gioan
Walloon Jan, Djihan
WelshEvan, Ianto, Ieuan, Ifan, Ioan, Iwan, SiônSiân, Sioned, Siwan
West Frisian Jannes, Jenne
Yiddish יוחנן‎ (Yoykhonen)
Yoruba Johanu
Zulu Johane

People with name John

Royalty

Politicians

Businessmen

Military

Musicians

Scientists

Writers

Actors

Sportsmen

Criminals

Colonial people

  • 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

Others

Pseudonyms

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "John" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. John on Online Etymology Dictionary
  3. Hoad, TF (ed), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, 1993, Oxford University Press, p. 248a ISBN 0-19-283098-8
  4. Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 146, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1
  5. Behind the Name: John.
  6. Bauckham, Richard (2006). Jesus Christ and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. p. 70. ISBN 0-8028-3162-1.
  7. For example, Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol.
  8. Campbell, Mike. "Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Jón". Behind the Name.
  9. "Popular Baby Names". Ssa.gov. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  10. "Top UK baby names 2004". Babycentre.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 6, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  11. "National Statistics". Statistics.gov.uk. September 8, 2009. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  12. "Name John: Wolfram Alpha". January 1, 2021.
  13. Faroe Media. "Málráðið".
  14. Kotus.fi
  15. "성경 (See e.g. Luke 1:13,60,63)" (in Korean). Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
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