Home › Baby Names Directory › Johnny
Johnny
Pronounced JAH-nee /ˈdʒɑː.ni/High
Meaning: A pet form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' Used here for a girl though it is overwhelmingly a boy's name and nickname.Low
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
Johnny is a diminutive of John, 'God is gracious,' from the Hebrew Yochanan. As a girl's name it is very rare; it is far more often a boy's name, which we note (said 'JAH-nee').
For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S., against heavy boys' use. Rare for girls, friendly, and classic.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Johnny…
Explore names like Johnny
Frequently Asked
What does the name Johnny mean?
Johnny is a pet form of John, from the Hebrew for 'God is gracious.'
How do you pronounce Johnny?
It's said JAH-nee /ˈdʒɑː.ni/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Johnny a boy or girl name?
Johnny is overwhelmingly a boy's name; it is used here for a girl, and we note the lean.
How popular is Johnny?
Johnny is very rare for girls and common for boys in the U.S.