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Jiannis
Pronounced YAH-nees /ˈjɑ.nis/Medium
Meaning: A spelling of the Greek Yannis (Giannis), the everyday form of Ioannis — John — from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' It is one of the most common men's names in Greece, and is carried today by the basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo.Medium
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
Jiannis is a spelling of the Greek Yannis (Giannis), the familiar short form of Ioannis — the Greek John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' It has been among the most common men's names in Greece for centuries, and the basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo has made it known far beyond. Rare in this spelling in the U.S. (said 'YAH-nees').
It appears very rarely in the U.S. in this spelling. Rare here, Greek, and warm.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Jiannis mean?
Jiannis is a spelling of the Greek Yannis (Giannis) — John, from the Hebrew for 'God is gracious.'
How do you pronounce Jiannis?
It's said YAH-nees /ˈjɑ.nis/ — two syllables, stress on the first; the J sounds like a Y.
Is Jiannis a boy or girl name?
Jiannis is a boy's name.
How popular is Jiannis?
Jiannis is very rare in the U.S. in this spelling, while Yannis and Giannis are common in Greece.