Jean

♂ Boy

Pronounced ZHAHN /ʒɑ̃/High

Meaning: God is gracious; French masculine form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious)High

In 30 seconds: The French masculine form of John meaning 'God is gracious.' In French, Jean (ZHAHN) is one of the most common masculine names — associated with Jean-Paul Sartre, Jean-Luc Picard, and Jean Reno.

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Origin HighFrench, Hebrew

MeaningGod is gracious; French masculine form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious)

U.S. rank (2024)#1139 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births184 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1993

Total births (all-time)≈ 24,863

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Jean is the French masculine form of John (Jean in masculine, Jeanne in feminine), from Latin Johannes, from Greek Ioannes, from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious). In France, Jean has been one of the most common masculine names for centuries.

Jean has been used in French American and broader communities. For boys it ranked #1139 in 2024.

Did you know? Jean-Luc Picard — captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) — has a quintessentially French name despite being a fictional character. His French identity was central to the show's vision of a cultivated, philosophically sophisticated future leader.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Jean — French/Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JohnJanJoan

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980)
French philosopher, playwright, and novelist. A leading figure in existentialism, awarded (but declined) the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature.

If you like Jean…

Jean-luc— the common French compound using Jean as its first element

Pierre— French form of Peter with the same classic Gallic character

Marc— French form of Mark with the same crisp one-syllable French feel

Rene— French masculine name meaning reborn, in the same classic French register

Claude— French masculine name with the same understated Gallic dignity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jean mean?

Jean means 'God is gracious,' as the French masculine form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan (Yahweh is gracious).

How do you pronounce Jean?

In French it's said ZHAHN — one syllable. In English it's sometimes said JEEN.

Is Jean a boy or girl name?

Jean is masculine in French; in English it is used for both sexes.

How popular is Jean?

Jean ranked #1139 for U.S. boys in 2024.