John
Hebrew boy's name meaning “God is gracious”
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Syllables
- 1
- Letters
- 4
- US rank (2023)
- #26
- Born in 2023
- 7,793
- Peak year
- 1998 (#15)
Meaning & origin
John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'. Borne by John the Baptist and the apostle John, it is among the most enduring of all names.
Is John a Hebrew name?
Yes — John is a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious". John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'. Borne by John the Baptist and the apostle John, it is among the most enduring of all names. You may also see it described as biblical, which refer to the same root.
Popularity
In the latest US data, John ranked #26 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
In 2023, 7,793 US boys were given the name John.
US popularity rank over time
Peaked at #15 in 1998
“Unranked” means John was outside the US top 1,000 that year.
See more boy names starting with J.
How to spell John
John is spelled J-O-H-N — 4 letters and 1 syllable. Alternative spellings people use include Jonathan.
Variants
Nicknames
Johnny, Jack
John: frequently asked questions
What does the name John mean?
John is a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious". John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'. Borne by John the Baptist and the apostle John, it is among the most enduring of all names.
Where does the name John come from?
John is of Hebrew origin. John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'. Borne by John the Baptist and the apostle John, it is among the most enduring of all names.
Is John a boy or a girl name?
John is most commonly a boy's name.
How many babies are named John?
In 2023, 7,793 US boys were given the name John.
Is John a popular name, and is it rising or falling?
In the latest US data, John ranked #26 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
What are common nicknames for John?
Common nicknames for John include Johnny, Jack.
How do you spell John?
John is spelled J-O-H-N. Related spellings include Jonathan.
What is John short for?
John is often used as a short form of Jonathan, though it is also given as a full name in its own right.
How common is the name John?
In 2023, 7,793 US boys were given the name John. In the latest US data, John ranked #26 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
Is John a Hebrew name?
Yes — John is a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious". John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'. Borne by John the Baptist and the apostle John, it is among the most enduring of all names. You may also see it described as biblical, which refer to the same root.
What does John mean in Hebrew?
In Hebrew, John means "God is gracious". John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'. Borne by John the Baptist and the apostle John, it is among the most enduring of all names.
Is John a biblical name?
John is usually classified as Hebrew, and biblical belongs to that same tradition — so yes, it is commonly described as biblical too. It means "God is gracious".