John
John is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious.” It ranked #23 in the United States in 2025. From the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious.
how do you pronounce John?
JON
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does John mean?
The name John means “God is gracious.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
From the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. One of the most enduring names in the Western world, John has been borne by 23 popes, numerous kings, and countless saints. Despite its ubiquity it remains a strong, timeless choice.
where does the name John come from?
From the Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan), joining Yah, the divine name, with a root meaning to be gracious — God is gracious. It reached English through Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes, losing a syllable at each step.
the history of John
John the Baptist and John the Evangelist between them made this the most common male name in Christian Europe for the better part of a millennium; twenty-three popes have taken it. It was so ubiquitous in England that it produced the surnames Johnson, Jones and Jackson, and generated Jack, which then became a name in its own right.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #23 |
| 2023 | #24 |
| 2022 | #25 |
| 2021 | #26 |
| 2020 | #26 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of John?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named John?
- John F. Kennedy (U.S. president)
- John Lennon (musician)
- John the Baptist (biblical figure)
what names are similar to John?
what names go well with John?
Sibling names that share John's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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