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John (given name)

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This article is about the given name. For other uses, see John.

John (/ˈdʒɒn/ JON) is a common male 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 Jews transliterating the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן‎), the contracted form of the longer name Yehochanan (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).[4]

John
18th century painting of John the Baptist by Anton Raphael Mengs
Pronunciation/ˈdʒɒn/ JON
GenderMale
Language(s)English
Name dayJune 24
Origin
Word/nameHebrew
Meaning"YHWH has been Gracious",[1] "Graced by YHWH" (Johanan)
Other names
Nickname(s)Jack, Johnny, Jackie
Related namesEvan, Eoin, Evandro, Evaristo, 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, Johan /Johann, Johanan, Johannes, Johnny, Jon, Jonathan (given name), Jone, Jovan, Juha, Juhani, Juan, Sean, Sion, Shane, Yahya, Yannis, Yohannes, Yo-han, Yunus, Xoán
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

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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 "YHWH 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

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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), and Hans (German, Dutch and Scandinavian).[8]

Name statistics

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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

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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)
Arabic يحيى (Yaḥyā, Qurʾānic), يوحنا (Yūḥannā, Biblical) or حنّا (Henna or Hanna)
Aramaic (Syriac) ܝܘܚܢܢ (Yuḥanon), ܚܢܐ (Henna or Hanna), ܐܝܘܢ (Ewan)
Aragonese Chuan Chuana
Armenian Հովհաննես (Hovhannes); Օհաննես (Ohannes); Classical Armenian: Յովհաննէս (Hovhannēs)
Assyrian ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ (Yoḥannān), Yukhannan, Yokhanna
Asturian Xuan Xuana
Azerbaijani Yəhya
Basque Manez, Ganix, Joanes, Iban, Jon 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) simplified Chinese: 约翰; traditional Chinese: 約翰; pinyin: 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 John, Johnny (diminutive), Jon, Evan, Ian, Jack (diminutive), Shawn, Sean, Shaun, Shane, Shani, Jan, Hann Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Joann, Jan, Jane, Jayne, Jayna, Janet, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeane, Jeanne, Jeannie, Luan, 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[13]
Fijian Jone, Ioane
Filipino Juan Juana
Finnish Johannes, Jussi, Janne, Jani, Juho, Juha, Juhana, Juhani, Jukka, Hannes, Hannu,[14] 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
Hebrew יוחנן (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 ヨハネ (Yohane), ジョン (Jon)
Javanese Yohanes, Yokanan
Kannada ಯೋಹಾನನು (Yōhānanu)
Kazakh Жақия (Jaqıyya), Шоқан (Şoqan)
Khmer យ៉ូហាន (Yauhan)
Kikuyu Johana, Yoane
Korean 요한 (Yohan)[15]
Kyrgyz Жакан (Jakan), Жакыя (Jakıya)

Жаныш (Janısh) Жунус (Junus)

Kristang Juang
Kupang Malay Yohanis Yohana
Lao ໂຢຮັນ (Yo-han)
Latin Ioannes
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
Mandaic Yuhana
Manx Juan, Ean
Māori Hoani,[16] Hōne[17]
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
Persian یوحنا (Yohannan), یحیی (Yahya)
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, Ivo, Ivã Joana, Iva
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
Scots Ian, Iain, John, Jock, Ewan, Evan Janet, Jonet
Scottish Gaelic Ian, Iain, Iainn, Eòin, Seathan, Shean, Euan/Ewan, 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, Ivan, Nino Juana, Joana, Giovanna, Ivana, Nina
Swahili Yohana
Swedish Jan, Johan, Johannes, John, Hans, Hannes, Jöns[18] Johanna, Hanna
Sylheti ইয়াহিয়া (Iyahiya), জনি (Jony), হান্নান (Hannan)
Syriac (Aramaic) ܝܘܚܢܢ (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)
Urdu یوحنا (Yúhanná)
Uzbek Yahyo
Valencian Joan Joana
Venetian Joàni, Xan, Xane
Vietnamese Dương, Giăng, Gioan
Walloon Jan, Djihan
Welsh Evan, Ianto, Ieuan, Ifan, Ioan, Iwan, Siôn Siân, Sioned, Siwan
West Frisian Jannes, Jenne
Yiddish יוחנן‎ (Yoykhonen)
Yoruba Johanu
Zulu Johane

People named John

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Royalty

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Politicians

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Businessmen

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Military

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Musicians

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Scientists

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Writers

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Actors

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Sportsmen

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Criminals

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Colonial people

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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

Others

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Pseudonyms

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Fictional characters

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "John" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Faroe Media. "Málráðið". Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  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.
  16. ^ www.netvalue.nz. "Hoani - Māori Dictionary". maoridictionary.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Whakapapa Club | Maori Genealogy Research @ whakapapa.maori.org.nz – Lists of Names for Whakapapa – Genealogy: Maori / English Name Translations". Whakapapa.maori.org.nz. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  18. ^ Svenska Akademiens ordbok (Spalt J 502 band 13, 1934 ed.). 1934. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
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