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Yannis
♂ Boy
Pronounced YAH-nees /ˈjɑ.nis/High
Meaning: Modern Greek John — 'God is gracious' — taverna-standard spellingHigh
In 30 seconds: John, ouzo-poured: Yannis graces every Greek harbor — economists (Varoufakis) and bouzouki players alike. Grace with feta.
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MeaningModern Greek John — 'God is gracious' — taverna-standard spelling
U.S. rank (2024)#3968 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births28 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 559
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
Yannis is the everyday Greek John — Hebrew 'God is gracious' — Aegean-universal.
In the U.S. it appears in Greek families. Rare, gracious at the root, and harbored.
Did you know? Yannis is Greece's default John — composer Yanni Americanized it, economist Yanis Varoufakis politicized it; islands just shout it at ferries.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Yannis — etymology
Variations
YiannisGiannisIoannis
Nicknames
Yanni
Famous Bearers
- ★Yanis Varoufakis (1961–present)Greek economist and politician.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Yannis mean?
Yannis is the modern Greek John, 'God is gracious'.
How do you pronounce Yannis?
It's said YAH-nees /ˈjɑ.nis/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Yannis a boy or girl name?
Yannis is a boy's name.
How popular is Yannis?
Yannis is a rare name in the U.S.