Gio

♂ Boy

Pronounced JEE-oh /ˈdʒiː.oʊ/High

Meaning: God is gracious; Italian short form of Giovanni (John), from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious)High

In 30 seconds: An Italian short form of Giovanni (John) meaning 'God is gracious.' Crisp, stylish, and immediately Italian in character, Gio has risen as a standalone given name alongside the popularity of Giovanni.

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Origin HighItalian, Hebrew

MeaningGod is gracious; Italian short form of Giovanni (John), from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious)

U.S. rank (2025)#1091 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births197 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,570

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Gio is the Italian short form of Giovanni, which is the Italian form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious). It has been used as a standalone given name in Italian and Italian American communities.

Gio ranked #1161 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Gio Ponti (1891–1979) was one of Italy's greatest architects and designers — creator of the Pirelli Tower in Milan and founder of Domus magazine, which has been defining Italian design culture since 1928.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Gio — Italian/Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

GiovanniGiorgio

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Gio Reyna (2002-)
American international footballer
★Gio Gonzalez (1985-)
American Major League Baseball pitcher

If you like Gio…

Giovanni— the full form from which Gio derives

Gianni— another short form of Giovanni in the same Italian tradition

Giacomo— Italian form of James with the same Mediterranean warmth

Giorgio— Italian form of George with the same crisp Italian feel

Julio— Spanish short form of Julian with the same warm Mediterranean quality

Explore names like Gio

By themehebrew two-syllable italian short-form

By meaningGod / Divine Grace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Gio mean?

Gio means 'God is gracious,' the Italian short form of Giovanni, from Hebrew Yohanan.

How do you pronounce Gio?

It's said JEE-oh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Gio a boy or girl name?

Gio is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Gio?

Gio ranked #1161 for U.S. boys in 2024.