About the Name
The name John sparks curiosity due to its unique sound and special meaning. Many people seek to better understand the origin, meaning, and history of names, whether to name a baby, create a character, or simply out of cultural interest. On this site, we gather complete information about the name John, including its etymology, possible variations in other languages, gender, usage in different cultures, and, when possible, famous people who bear it.
Understanding the meaning of proper names like John is also diving into traditions, languages, and customs from various parts of the world. Each name carries symbolic, emotional, or religious value.
Name Origin and History
ENGLISH, BIBLICAL, DUTCH, DANISH
Name Meaning
IOHANNES’S ENGLISH FORM, THE LATIN FORM OF THE GREEK NAME ἸΩΆΝΝΗΣ (IOANNES), DERIVED FROM THE HEBREW NAME יוֹחָנָן (YOḤANAN). THIS MEANS THAT “THE LORD IS GRACEFUL,” FROM THE ROOTS יוֹ (YO) REFERRING TO THE HEBREW GOD AND חָנַן (ḤANAN) WHICH MEANS “TO BE GRACEFUL.” THE HEBREW FORM OCCURS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (SPELL JOHANAN OR JEHOHANAN), BUT THAT NAME OWES ITS POPULARITY TO TWO NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS, BOTH HIGHLY REVERED SAINTS. THE FIRST IS JOHN THE BAPTIST, A JEWISH ASCETIC THAT IS CONSIDERED THE PRECURSOR OF JESUS. HE BAPTIZED JESUS AND WAS LATER EXECUTED BY HEROD ANTIPAS. THE SECOND IS THE APOSTLE JOHN, WHO IS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED THE AUTHOR OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL AND REVELATION. WITH THE APOSTLES PEDRO AND JAMES (JOHN’S BROTHER), HE WAS PART OF THE INNER CIRCLE OF JESUS. THIS NAME WAS INITIALLY MORE COMMON AMONG THE CHRISTIANS OF THE EAST IN THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE, BUT FLOURISHED IN WESTERN EUROPE AFTER THE FIRST CRUSADE. IN ENGLAND, HE BECAME EXTREMELY POPULAR, USUALLY THE MOST COMMON MALE NAME OF THE THIRTEENTH TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (BUT SOMETIMES SURPASSED BY WILLIAM). DURING THE LATER AVERAGE AGE, IT WAS GIVEN APPROXIMATELY ONE FIFTH OF ALL THE ENGLISH BOYS. IN THE UNITED STATES, IT WAS THE MOST COMMON NAME FOR BOYS UNTIL 1923. THE NAME (IN SEVERAL SPELLINGS) WAS SUPPORTED BY 21 POPES AND EIGHT BYZANTINE EMPERORS, AS WELL AS RULERS FROM ENGLAND, FRANCE, SWEDEN, DENMARK, POLY, PORTUGAL, BULGARIA, RUSSIA AND HUNGARY. IT WAS ALSO SUPPORTED BY POET JOHN MILTON (1608-1674), PHILOSOPHER JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704), AMERICAN FOUNDING FATHER AND PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS (1735-1826) AND POET JOHN KEATS (1795-1821). THIRTEENTH-CENTURY FAMOUS BEARERS INCLUDE AUTHOR JOHN STEINBECK (1902-1968), MURDERED US PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963) AND MUSICIAN JOHN LENNON (1940-1980). THE FORMS OF IAN (SCOTTISH), THAT IRISH AND EVAN) WERE ALSO OFTEN USED FREQUENTLY (SEAN AND EVANO) THAT WELSIN AND EVANO) WERE OFTEN USED FREQUENTLY (SEAN AND EVANO) AND EVANO (WELSH).
Name Numerology
According to numerology, the lucky number of the name John is 2, associated with cooperation, diplomacy and sensitivity.
This number was obtained by adding the numerical values of each letter in the name (20) and reducing it to a single digit.
Name Gender
Male
Famous People
No famous person with this name was found.