John
Gender: Boy
Meaning: God is gracious
Origin: Hebrew — from Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן): Yah (God) + chanan (to be gracious)
Popularity: Ranked #23 in 2025 with 8,027 babies born.
History: John is arguably the most influential name in the history of the Western world. It was the name of John the Baptist, John the Apostle, 23 popes, eight Holy Roman Emperors, and no fewer than 29 U.S. presidents either named John or with John as a middle name. For most of recorded American history it was the single most common male name in the country. Its sheer ubiquity gave rise to expressions like 'John Doe' and 'the john.' No name has been carried by more historical figures across more centuries — it is the bedrock of English naming.
Famous people named John: John F. Kennedy (president), John Lennon (musician), John Legend (singer), Elton John (musician)
Name length: 4 letters
How common is John? About 1 in 414 babies born in 2025 were named John, or roughly 22 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about John
What does the name John mean?
John means “God is gracious” from Hebrew — from Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן): Yah (God) + chanan (to be gracious) roots.
What is the origin of the name John?
John has Hebrew — from Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן): Yah (God) + chanan (to be gracious) origin. The traditional meaning is “God is gracious”.
How popular is John?
John ranked #23 in 2025 — given to 8,027 babies that year.
When was John most popular?
John peaked in 1947 with 88,321 babies registered that year.
Is John a boy or girl name?
John is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Johns in registered births are male.
Is the name John rising or falling in popularity?
John has risen 10228 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #10251 in 2020 to #23 in 2025.
How long has John been recorded?
John appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.