John Overview
God is gracious, graced by God
Boy
Hebrew
From Hebrew Yohanan, to Greek Ioannis, to Latin Johannes, finally evolving into the English John
Christianity
/dÊ’É‘n/
Historically very popular, top name from 1880 to early 1920s in the U.S., consistently in the top 30 until 2023.
1 syllable
4 letters
2 (Cooperative, Adaptable, Considerate)
Classic, Short, Traditional, Popular, Religious and Spiritual, Cute
Strength, intelligence, sincerity
John carries significant religious weight in Christianity due to figures like John the Baptist and the Apostle John.
June 24th
John Variations in Different Cultures
Juan, Giovanni, Jean, Ivan, Johann, Jan, Hans, Gianni, Evan, Yahya, Eoin, Ion, Janek, Yohanes, Jowan.
Jack, Johnny, Johnnie, Jackie, Jay, Jim, Joe, Jimbo, Ian, Jax
Jack, Johnny, Jake
What Is the Meaning of John?
The name John comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan, which means “God is gracious” or “graced by God.” The name symbolizes qualities like strength, intelligence, and sincerity.
What Is the Origin of The Name John?
The name John originally comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan, which means “YHWH is Gracious” or “YHWH is Merciful.” This name first surfaced in the Old Testament and reflects a direct connection to YHWH, or Yahweh, the name for the God of the Israelites.
Over time, as languages changed, Yohanan was adapted to Ioannis in Greek and later to Johannes in Latin.
The English name John evolved from these versions. It became popular because important religious figures, like John the Baptist and the apostle John, carried the name.
This popularity continued as the name was used by kings and spread widely with the growth of Christianity.
John Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name John in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #272021 | #262022 | #262023 |
| Top 3 Rankings | #11880 | #11881 | #11882 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for John
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26 No change from 2022 | 7750 (-228 from 2022) | 0.42323 |
| 2022 | 26 (+1 from 2021) | 7978 (-199 from 2021) | 0.42595 |
| 2021 | 27 No change from 2020 | 8177 (-82 from 2020) | 0.43643 |
| 2020 | 27 (+1 from 2019) | 8259 (-593 from 2019) | 0.44651 |
| 2019 | 28 (-2 from 2018) | 8852 (-343 from 2018) | 0.46062 |
| 2018 | 26 (+1 from 2017) | 9195 (-328 from 2017) | 0.47306 |
| 2017 | 27 (+1 from 2016) | 9523 (-530 from 2016) | 0.48117 |
| 2016 | 28 (-2 from 2015) | 10053 (-363 from 2015) | 0.49629 |
| 2015 | 26 No change from 2014 | 10416 (-282 from 2014) | 0.50948 |
| 2014 | 26 (+1 from 2013) | 10698 (-34 from 2013) | 0.52205 |
| 2013 | 27 (+1 from 2012) | 10732 (+99 from 2012) | 0.53110 |
| 2012 | 28 (-1 from 2011) | 10633 (-429 from 2011) | 0.52400 |
| 2011 | 27 (-1 from 2010) | 11062 (-505 from 2010) | 0.54455 |
| 2010 | 26 No change from 2009 | 11567 (-564 from 2009) | 0.56303 |
| 2009 | 26 (-6 from 2008) | 12131 (-1200 from 2008) | 0.57197 |
| 2008 | 20 (-1 from 2007) | 13331 (-1108 from 2007) | 0.61140 |
| 2007 | 19 No change from 2006 | 14439 (-735 from 2006) | 0.65185 |
| 2006 | 19 (-1 from 2005) | 15174 (-613 from 2005) | 0.69213 |
| 2005 | 18 No change from 2004 | 15787 (-676 from 2004) | 0.74210 |
| 2004 | 18 (-1 from 2003) | 16463 (-783 from 2003) | 0.77900 |
| 2003 | 17 No change from 2002 | 17246 (-227 from 2002) | 0.82078 |
| 2002 | 17 (-3 from 2001) | 17473 (-1428 from 2001) | 0.84547 |
| 2001 | 14 No change from 2000 | 18901 (-1211 from 2000) | 0.91379 |
| 2000 | 14 (+1 from 1999) | 20112 (-253 from 1999) | 0.96307 |
| 1999 | 15 No change from 1998 | 20365 (-266 from 1998) | 0.99877 |
| 1998 | 15 No change from 1997 | 20631 (-755 from 1997) | 1.01749 |
| 1997 | 15 No change from 1996 | 21386 (-797 from 1996) | 1.07049 |
| 1996 | 15 (-2 from 1995) | 22183 (-1058 from 1995) | 1.10709 |
| 1995 | 13 (+2 from 1994) | 23241 (-940 from 1994) | 1.15548 |
| 1994 | 15 (+1 from 1993) | 24181 (-814 from 1993) | 1.18630 |
| 1993 | 16 (-2 from 1992) | 24995 (-1258 from 1992) | 1.21011 |
| 1992 | 14 (-4 from 1991) | 26253 (-1551 from 1991) | 1.25064 |
| 1991 | 10 (+2 from 1990) | 27804 (-1284 from 1990) | 1.31170 |
| 1990 | 12 No change from 1989 | 29088 (-764 from 1989) | 1.35165 |
| 1989 | 12 (-1 from 1988) | 29852 (+430 from 1988) | 1.42425 |
| 1988 | 11 No change from 1987 | 29422 (-130 from 1987) | 1.46943 |
| 1987 | 11 (-1 from 1986) | 29552 (-659 from 1986) | 1.51533 |
| 1986 | 10 (-1 from 1985) | 30211 (-1286 from 1985) | 1.57211 |
| 1985 | 9 (-1 from 1984) | 31497 (-1111 from 1984) | 1.63671 |
| 1984 | 8 (+1 from 1983) | 32608 (-551 from 1983) | 1.73752 |
| 1983 | 9 (-1 from 1982) | 33159 (-1542 from 1982) | 1.77931 |
| 1982 | 8 No change from 1981 | 34701 (-171 from 1981) | 1.83877 |
| 1981 | 8 No change from 1980 | 34872 (-408 from 1980) | 1.87244 |
| 1980 | 8 (-1 from 1979) | 35280 (-135 from 1979) | 1.90213 |
| 1979 | 7 No change from 1978 | 35415 (+1393 from 1978) | 1.97703 |
| 1978 | 7 No change from 1977 | 34022 (-176 from 1977) | 1.99121 |
| 1977 | 7 (-1 from 1976) | 34198 (+217 from 1976) | 2.00063 |
| 1976 | 6 (+1 from 1975) | 33981 (-1093 from 1975) | 2.08142 |
| 1975 | 7 (-1 from 1974) | 35074 (-2546 from 1974) | 2.16186 |
| 1974 | 6 No change from 1973 | 37620 (-1548 from 1973) | 2.30762 |
| 1973 | 6 (-1 from 1972) | 39168 (-3999 from 1972) | 2.42731 |
| 1972 | 5 (-1 from 1971) | 43167 (-8344 from 1971) | 2.57860 |
| 1971 | 4 No change from 1970 | 51511 (-6983 from 1970) | 2.83359 |
| 1970 | 4 No change from 1969 | 58494 (-246 from 1969) | 3.07091 |
| 1969 | 4 (-1 from 1968) | 58740 (-2164 from 1968) | 3.21131 |
| 1968 | 3 (+1 from 1967) | 60904 (-699 from 1967) | 3.43036 |
| 1967 | 4 No change from 1966 | 61603 (-3414 from 1966) | 3.46195 |
| 1966 | 4 (-2 from 1965) | 65017 (-6493 from 1965) | 3.57702 |
| 1965 | 2 No change from 1964 | 71510 (-11007 from 1964) | 3.77441 |
| 1964 | 2 No change from 1963 | 82517 (+3895 from 1963) | 4.07082 |
| 1963 | 2 (+1 from 1962) | 78622 (+209 from 1962) | 3.80804 |
| 1962 | 3 No change from 1961 | 78413 (-1538 from 1961) | 3.73096 |
| 1961 | 3 (+1 from 1960) | 79951 (+3852 from 1960) | 3.70660 |
| 1960 | 4 No change from 1959 | 76099 (-301 from 1959) | 3.51439 |
| 1959 | 4 (+1 from 1958) | 76400 (+340 from 1958) | 3.52647 |
| 1958 | 5 No change from 1957 | 76060 (-2976 from 1957) | 3.52968 |
| 1957 | 5 No change from 1956 | 79036 (-1767 from 1956) | 3.61076 |
| 1956 | 5 No change from 1955 | 80803 (+683 from 1955) | 3.76488 |
| 1955 | 5 (-1 from 1954) | 80120 (-1054 from 1954) | 3.83302 |
| 1954 | 4 No change from 1953 | 81174 (+1006 from 1953) | 3.92309 |
| 1953 | 4 (-1 from 1952) | 80168 (-2968 from 1952) | 4.00397 |
| 1952 | 3 No change from 1951 | 83136 (+1566 from 1951) | 4.21307 |
| 1951 | 3 No change from 1950 | 81570 (+2155 from 1950) | 4.26693 |
| 1950 | 3 No change from 1949 | 79415 (-1760 from 1949) | 4.36633 |
| 1949 | 3 No change from 1948 | 81175 (-1660 from 1948) | 4.50471 |
| 1948 | 3 No change from 1947 | 82835 (-5485 from 1947) | 4.64648 |
| 1947 | 3 No change from 1946 | 88320 (+9058 from 1946) | 4.75457 |
| 1946 | 3 No change from 1945 | 79262 (+13145 from 1945) | 4.80262 |
| 1945 | 3 No change from 1944 | 66117 (-496 from 1944) | 4.82095 |
| 1944 | 3 No change from 1943 | 66613 (-2315 from 1943) | 4.79520 |
| 1943 | 3 No change from 1942 | 68928 (+2889 from 1942) | 4.73857 |
| 1942 | 3 No change from 1941 | 66039 (+8522 from 1941) | 4.68928 |
| 1941 | 3 No change from 1940 | 57517 (+2732 from 1940) | 4.58354 |
| 1940 | 3 No change from 1939 | 54785 (+3759 from 1939) | 4.61865 |
| 1939 | 3 No change from 1938 | 51026 (+506 from 1938) | 4.50241 |
| 1938 | 3 No change from 1937 | 50520 (+1768 from 1937) | 4.44526 |
| 1937 | 3 No change from 1936 | 48752 (+1075 from 1936) | 4.45776 |
| 1936 | 3 No change from 1935 | 47677 (+169 from 1935) | 4.47966 |
| 1935 | 3 No change from 1934 | 47508 (+769 from 1934) | 4.44169 |
| 1934 | 3 No change from 1933 | 46739 (+513 from 1933) | 4.40131 |
| 1933 | 3 No change from 1932 | 46226 (-2400 from 1932) | 4.53111 |
| 1932 | 3 No change from 1931 | 48626 (+204 from 1931) | 4.52573 |
| 1931 | 3 No change from 1930 | 48422 (-4023 from 1930) | 4.52637 |
| 1930 | 3 No change from 1929 | 52445 (+332 from 1929) | 4.64315 |
| 1929 | 3 (-1 from 1928) | 52113 (-1647 from 1928) | 4.70501 |
| 1928 | 2 No change from 1927 | 53760 (-2188 from 1927) | 4.71098 |
| 1927 | 2 No change from 1926 | 55948 (-160 from 1926) | 4.81514 |
| 1926 | 2 No change from 1925 | 56108 (-1088 from 1925) | 4.89837 |
| 1925 | 2 No change from 1924 | 57196 (-1856 from 1924) | 4.96743 |
| 1924 | 2 (-1 from 1923) | 59052 (+1585 from 1923) | 5.05136 |
| 1923 | 1 No change from 1922 | 57467 (+186 from 1922) | 5.07536 |
| 1922 | 1 No change from 1921 | 57281 (-934 from 1921) | 5.09075 |
| 1921 | 1 No change from 1920 | 58215 (+1302 from 1920) | 5.11587 |
| 1920 | 1 No change from 1919 | 56913 (+3390 from 1919) | 5.17023 |
| 1919 | 1 No change from 1918 | 53523 (-3035 from 1918) | 5.27151 |
| 1918 | 1 No change from 1917 | 56558 (+4706 from 1917) | 5.39341 |
| 1917 | 1 No change from 1916 | 51852 (+1809 from 1916) | 5.40515 |
| 1916 | 1 No change from 1915 | 50043 (+2467 from 1915) | 5.42036 |
| 1915 | 1 No change from 1914 | 47576 (+9629 from 1914) | 5.40069 |
| 1914 | 1 No change from 1913 | 37947 (+8618 from 1913) | 5.55333 |
| 1913 | 1 No change from 1912 | 29329 (+4742 from 1912) | 5.46931 |
| 1912 | 1 No change from 1911 | 24587 (+11141 from 1911) | 5.44616 |
| 1911 | 1 No change from 1910 | 13446 (+1996 from 1910) | 5.57012 |
| 1910 | 1 No change from 1909 | 11450 (+1860 from 1909) | 5.49119 |
| 1909 | 1 No change from 1908 | 9590 (+247 from 1908) | 5.42228 |
| 1908 | 1 No change from 1907 | 9343 (+360 from 1907) | 5.61590 |
| 1907 | 1 No change from 1906 | 8983 (+719 from 1906) | 5.66451 |
| 1906 | 1 No change from 1905 | 8264 (+205 from 1905) | 5.73626 |
| 1905 | 1 No change from 1904 | 8059 (-49 from 1904) | 5.62650 |
| 1904 | 1 No change from 1903 | 8108 (+500 from 1903) | 5.85402 |
| 1903 | 1 No change from 1902 | 7608 (-299 from 1902) | 5.88299 |
| 1902 | 1 No change from 1901 | 7907 (+1007 from 1901) | 5.95631 |
| 1901 | 1 No change from 1900 | 6900 (-2929 from 1900) | 5.96927 |
| 1900 | 1 No change from 1899 | 9829 (+2839 from 1899) | 6.06264 |
| 1899 | 1 No change from 1898 | 6990 (-1169 from 1898) | 6.06802 |
| 1898 | 1 No change from 1897 | 8159 (+609 from 1897) | 6.17643 |
| 1897 | 1 No change from 1896 | 7550 (-588 from 1896) | 6.19147 |
| 1896 | 1 No change from 1895 | 8138 (-182 from 1895) | 6.30511 |
| 1895 | 1 No change from 1894 | 8320 (+83 from 1894) | 6.56970 |
| 1894 | 1 No change from 1893 | 8237 (+188 from 1893) | 6.59530 |
| 1893 | 1 No change from 1892 | 8049 (-990 from 1892) | 6.64981 |
| 1892 | 1 No change from 1891 | 9039 (+1359 from 1891) | 6.87627 |
| 1891 | 1 No change from 1890 | 7680 (-822 from 1890) | 7.02878 |
| 1890 | 1 No change from 1889 | 8502 (-46 from 1889) | 7.10276 |
| 1889 | 1 No change from 1888 | 8548 (-699 from 1888) | 7.18126 |
| 1888 | 1 No change from 1887 | 9247 (+1137 from 1887) | 7.11817 |
| 1887 | 1 No change from 1886 | 8110 (-916 from 1886) | 7.41920 |
| 1886 | 1 No change from 1885 | 9026 (+270 from 1885) | 7.58226 |
| 1885 | 1 No change from 1884 | 8756 (-632 from 1884) | 7.55186 |
| 1884 | 1 No change from 1883 | 9388 (+494 from 1883) | 7.64881 |
| 1883 | 1 No change from 1882 | 8894 (-663 from 1882) | 7.90754 |
| 1882 | 1 No change from 1881 | 9557 (+789 from 1881) | 7.83162 |
| 1881 | 1 No change from 1880 | 8768 (-887 from 1880) | 8.09782 |
| 1880 | 1 First SSA data recorded | 9655 First SSA data recorded | 8.15463 |
American States Popularity Rankings for John
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #292021 | #302022 | #262023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #152021 | #142022 | #132023 |
California (CA)
 California (CA) | #812021 | #862022 | #852023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #292021 | #312022 | #202023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #282021 | #312022 | #372023 |
Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #362021 | #362022 | #282023 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #122021 | #122022 | #162023 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #222021 | #202022 | #252023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #442021 | #362022 | #332023 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #162021 | #182022 | #132023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #82021 | #72022 | #72023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #342021 | #442022 | #432023 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #382021 | #312022 | #322023 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #232021 | #262022 | #242023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #112021 | #132022 | #132023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #22021 | #32022 | #22023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #122021 | #92022 | #82023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #492021 | #332022 | #512023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #282021 | #182022 | #202023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #352021 | #522022 | #472023 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #62021 | #62022 | #62023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #182021 | #142022 | #232023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #82021 | #52022 | #52023 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #142021 | #262022 | #182023 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #22021 | #22022 | #12023 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #572021 | #752022 | #622023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #512021 | #472022 | #522023 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #222021 | #332022 | #272023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #442021 | #272022 | #522023 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #182021 | #82022 | #132023 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #462021 | #252022 | #272023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #382021 | #412022 | #342023 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #102021 | #92022 | #142023 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #822021 | #582022 | #282023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #642021 | #852022 | #422023 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #662021 | #652022 | #752023 |
Rhode Island (RI)
 Rhode Island (RI) | #102021 | #292022 | #252023 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #412021 | #392022 | #752023 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #562021 | #462022 | #522023 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #872021 | #822022 | #872023 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #372021 | #152022 | #222023 |
New Hampshire (NH)
 New Hampshire (NH) | #272021 | #242022 | #402023 |
Delaware (DE)
 Delaware (DE) | #362021 | #382022 | #162023 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #772021 | #892022 | #752023 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #602021 | #622022 | #722023 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #782021 | #482022 | #912023 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #362021 | #782022 | #412023 |
Vermont (VT)
 Vermont (VT) | #292021 | #302022 | #832023 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #662021 | #672022 | #1062023 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #562021 | #112022 | #412023 |
Alaska (AK)
 Alaska (AK) | #172021 | #112022 | #142023 |
Popularity Rankings for John in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in Medieval England
 Medieval England | #11377-1381 |
Popularity in Other American Territories
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
 Other American Territories | #182019 | #182020 | #72021 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #282021 | #362022 | #312023 |
Popularity in Greenland
 Greenland | #362019 | #462020 | #462021 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #482021 | #792022 | #702023 |
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #702021 | #682022 | #752023 |
Popularity in Puerto Rico
 Puerto Rico | #1132021 | #692022 | #1022023 |
Popularity in Australia (NSW)
 Australia (NSW) | #952016 | #832017 | #972019 |
Popularity in Sweden
 Sweden | #932019 | #852022 | #1042023 |
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #852021 | #1032022 | #1122023 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #862021 | #1112022 | #1012023 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #1312019 | #1502020 | #1542021 |
Popularity in Germany
 Germany | #1392021 | #1502022 | #1372023 |
Popularity in Norway
 Norway | #1462021 | #1502022 | #1432023 |
Popularity in Switzerland
 Switzerland | #1542020 | #1782021 | #2712022 |
Popularity in Chile
 Chile | #1822017 | #1622018 | #1752019 |
Popularity in Austria
 Austria | #1891999 | #1892000 | #1902001 |
Popularity in France
 France | #1941992 | #1921993 | #1971995 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #2062020 | #2402021 | #3372022 |
Popularity in Iceland
 Iceland | #3292021 |
Popularity in Poland
 Poland | #3452018 | #3842019 | #3702020 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is John a Name for Boys or Girls?
John is mostly a boy’s name, but it also has versions for girls. For girls, similar names include Jackie, Jacqueline, Jana, Jane, Janet, Jeanne, Jeannie, Joan, Joanna, and Johanna. Some girls may also be named John or Johnnie.