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John
Pronounced JON /dʒɒn/High
Meaning: God is gracious; Yahweh is graciousHigh
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
John derives from the Hebrew Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), composed of Yeho (Yahweh) and chanan (to be gracious), meaning 'Yahweh is gracious.' In the New Testament, two important figures bore this name: John the Baptist and John the Apostle, author of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation.
John was the most common male name in England for much of the medieval and early modern period. In the United States it was the #1 boys' name repeatedly across the 19th and early 20th centuries. Twenty-one popes have borne this name. It has never left the U.S. top 25 boys' names since records began.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★John the Apostle (c. 6 AD–c. 100 AD)One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, traditionally credited with the Gospel of John.
- ★John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)35th President of the United States.
- ★John Lennon (1940–1980)British musician, co-founder of the Beatles.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name John mean?
John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious' or 'Yahweh is gracious,' borne by John the Baptist and John the Apostle in the New Testament.
How do you pronounce John?
John is a single syllable: JON /dʒɒn/, rhyming with 'on.'
Is John a boy or girl name?
John is used almost exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine forms include Jane, Joan, Jean, and Joanna.
How popular is John?
John has never left the U.S. top 25 boys' names since SSA records began in 1880, and was the #1 name repeatedly. In many historical periods it was the most common male name in England and America.