Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
John
BoyHebrew· “Yahweh is gracious”
- Meaning
- Yahweh is gracious
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- JAHN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #23
- US babies 2025
- 8,027
- Best rank
- #1 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of John
John is a Hebrew name that means “Yahweh is gracious”.
John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, "Yahweh is gracious", which passed through the Greek Ioannes and the Latin Iohannes. The New Testament honors two major figures by this name, John the Baptist and John the Apostle, and devotion to both made it one of the most widespread names in Christian Europe. It took countless forms: Jean, Juan, Giovanni, Johann, Ivan, Sean and Ian among them. In England it was the most common male name for centuries, borne by King John of Magna Carta fame as well as by many popes and several presidents. John sounds simple and strong, and Jack, Johnny and Jon are close relatives.
Other spellings with the same sound: Jon, Jonn.
Popularity over time
John has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #1 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 88,324 were named John. In 2025, 8,027 babies were named John, and it ranked #23 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #1 in 1920, #3 in 1950, #8 in 1980, #14 in 2000, #26 in 2010, and #23 in 2025. Of the 5,182,633 US boys named John since records began, 15% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 713,394 babies. Since 2010, 151,170 more have been named John.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Robert, James, William, Richard, and Charles.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, John ranked highest in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | #1 | 343 |
| Mississippi | #3 | 151 |
| Louisiana | #5 | 181 |
| South Carolina | #6 | 205 |
| Georgia | #8 | 369 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
John is usually pronounced JAHN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-hn”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Jon and Jonn.
Middle names for John
A few middle names that flow with John: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for John
Similar names
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mah-TAY-oh
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Lists that include John
Frequently asked questions
What does the name John mean?
John is a Hebrew name that means “Yahweh is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name John?
John has Hebrew roots. John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, "Yahweh is gracious", which passed through the Greek Ioannes and the Latin Iohannes.
Is John a popular name?
Yes. John ranked #23 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is John a boy or girl name?
John is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce John?
John is usually pronounced JAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings