Home › Baby Names Directory › Yannis
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.
💕 Browse more names
MeaningModern Greek John — 'God is gracious' — taverna-standard spelling
U.S. rank (2025)#4043 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births27 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 586
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.
If you like Yannis…
Explore names like Yannis
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.