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John Boy

Popularity: #21 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationJON / /dʒɒn/

Hebrew; Latin; English

Meaning

Hebrew: God is gracious; Latin: John; English: derived from the Hebrew

Historical & Cultural Background

The name John has its roots in the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means "Yahweh is gracious." This name was transliterated into Greek as Ioannes and then into Latin as Iohannes. The transition into Old French as Johan eventually led to the modern English form, John. The name has been widely used across various cultures and languages, often retaining its core meaning related to divine grace.

Historically, John has been a prominent name in religious texts, particularly in Christianity. One of the most significant figures bearing this name is John the Baptist, who is mentioned in the New Testament and is recognized for his role in baptizing Jesus Christ. Additionally, the Apostle John, traditionally credited with writing the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation, further solidified the name's importance in Christian tradition. The name's usage became widespread in medieval Europe, particularly after the establishment of the cult of saints, which included numerous saints named John, such as Saint John of Beverley and Saint John Chrysostom.

Culturally, the name John has been associated with various symbolic meanings, including leadership and righteousness, often reflecting the qualities attributed to the biblical figures. The name has also inspired numerous variations and diminutives across different languages, such as Juan in Spanish and Giovanni in Italian, which have their own historical significance. The enduring nature of the name John can be attributed to its strong biblical roots and the reverence associated with the figures who bore it, making it a lasting choice throughout centuries.

Trend Summary

John has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the mid-20th century but remains a classic name.

Similar Names

JonathanJosephJoshuaJaredJordanJesseJacobJack

Variants

  • Jon
  • Johnny
  • Jack

International Variants

  • Juan (Spanish)
  • Johann (German)
  • Giovanni (Italian)
  • Jean (French)
  • Ioan (Romanian)

Famous people named John

John Lennon is a musician best known for his work with The Beatles, as a solo artist, and for the song Imagine.

John Wayne is an actor best known for his roles in Western films such as True Grit, The Searchers, and Stagecoach.

John Steinbeck is an author best known for his novels The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden.

John Travolta is an actor best known for his roles in Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, and Grease.

John Cleese is a comedian and actor best known for his work with Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and A Fish Called Wanda.

John Goodman is an actor best known for his roles in Roseanne, The Big Lebowski, and Monsters, Inc.

John Grisham is an author best known for his legal thrillers such as The Firm, A Time to Kill, and The Pelican Brief.

John Legend is a musician best known for his songs All of Me, Ordinary People, and his work on the album Get Lifted.

John Hughes is a filmmaker best known for his films The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Home Alone.

John Malkovich is an actor best known for his roles in Being John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons, and Adaptation.

John Boyega is an actor best known for his role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the film Attack the Block.

John C. Reilly is an actor best known for his roles in Step Brothers, Chicago, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

John Legend is a singer-songwriter best known for his album Get Lifted, and the song All of Me.

John Williams is a composer best known for his film scores for Star Wars, Jaws, and Indiana Jones.

John Krasinski is an actor best known for his role in The Office and for directing A Quiet Place.

John Locke is a philosopher best known for his works Two Treatises of Government and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

John McEnroe is a former professional tennis player best known for his achievements at Wimbledon and the US Open.

John Rhys-Davies is an actor best known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

John Barry is a composer best known for his film scores for the James Bond series and Out of Africa.

John Elway is a former professional football player best known for his career with the Denver Broncos and two Super Bowl victories.

John Stamos is an actor best known for his role in Full House and for his work on ER.

John Waters is a filmmaker best known for his films Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, and Cry-Baby.

John Legend is a musician and producer best known for his work on the album Get Lifted and the song All of Me.

John H. Johnson is a businessman best known for founding Johnson Publishing Company and Ebony magazine.

John Corbett is an actor best known for his roles in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Northern Exposure.

John C. McGinley is an actor best known for his role in Scrubs and for his work in Platoon.

Fictional characters named John

John Wick is a fictional character from the film series John Wick. He is a retired hitman seeking vengeance for the death of his beloved dog and the theft of his car.

John Snow is a fictional character from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire and the TV series Game of Thrones. He is the illegitimate son of Eddard Stark and becomes a key figure in the battle for the Iron Throne.

John Locke is a fictional character from the TV series Lost. He is a survivor of Oceanic Flight 815 who becomes a leader among the group and has a deep connection to the island's mysteries.

John Watson is a fictional character from the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. He is the loyal friend and confidant of the detective Sherlock Holmes, often serving as the narrator of their adventures.

John Connor is a fictional character from the Terminator film series. He is the leader of the human resistance against Skynet in a post-apocalyptic future.

John Rambo is a fictional character from the Rambo film series. He is a former Green Beret and Vietnam War veteran known for his combat skills and survival instincts.

Sibling Suggestions

JamesMatthewDavidMichaelThomasAndrew

U.S. Historical Usage

The name John was first seen in the United States in 1880. John has ranked as high as #4 nationally, which occurred in 1947, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name John has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for John (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 860
11%
CA 484
6%
FL 461
6%
NY 436
6%
GA 379
5%
PA 355
5%
NC 352
5%
TN 305
4%
AL 303
4%
IL 285
4%
VA 273
4%
OH 260
3%
MA 247
3%
SC 203
3%
MI 180
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18809,655
18818,768
18829,557
18838,894
18849,388
18858,756
18869,026
18878,110
18889,247
18898,548
18908,502
18917,680
18929,039
18938,049
18948,237
18958,320
18968,138
18977,550
18988,159
18996,990
19009,828
19016,900
19027,907
19037,608
19048,108
19058,059
19068,264
19078,983
19089,343
19099,590
191011,450
191113,446
191224,588
191329,329
191437,947
191547,576
191650,043
191751,852
191856,558
191953,523
192056,913
192158,215
192257,281
192357,467
192459,052
192557,195
192656,108
192755,949
192853,761
192952,110
193052,447
193148,422
193248,625
193346,225
193446,742
193547,510
193647,679
193748,753
193850,518
193951,025
194054,784
194157,519
194266,041
194368,928
194466,611
194566,118
194679,266
194788,321
194882,832
194981,180
195079,412
195181,570
195283,138
195380,167
195481,176
195580,122
195680,806
195779,032
195876,049
195976,445
196076,086
196179,973
196278,420
196378,616
196482,519
196571,499
196665,015
196761,603
196860,906
196958,737
197058,496
197151,508
197243,162
197339,169
197437,618
197535,075
197633,979
197734,199
197834,018
197935,412
198035,277
198134,872
198234,707
198333,158
198432,611
198531,499
198630,208
198729,553
198829,423
198929,853
199029,090
199127,809
199226,255
199324,995
199424,186
199523,244
199622,186
199721,386
199820,631
199920,365
200020,113
200118,903
200217,476
200317,249
200416,467
200515,791
200615,176
200714,440
200813,335
200912,133
201011,567
201111,065
201210,635
201310,736
201410,699
201510,421
201610,055
20179,530
20189,198
20198,857
20208,262
20218,182
20227,993
20237,793
20248,047